Following the incidents in the first leg of the Champions League match between Benfica Lisbon and Real Madrid, FIFA has extended the six-match suspension against Gianluca Prestianni. As a result, the 20-year-old faces the possibility of missing the World Cup.
When UEFA announced a few weeks ago that it was suspending Benfica Lisbon’s Gianluca Prestianni for six matches (three of them on probation for two years) for “discriminatory behavior,” it was already clear that FIFA would also be looking into the case: The European governing body had requested that the suspension be extended worldwide. Now the decision has been made—one that could mean the end of the World Cup for the 20-year-old.
On Wednesday, FIFA extended the suspension, making it valid worldwide. This means Prestianni would miss the Argentine national team’s first two group stage matches—if he is even selected—since the suspension applies only to competitive matches. At the World Cup, Argentina will first face Algeria, then Austria.
The reason for the suspension was a verbal altercation between Prestianni and Vinicius Junior in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs following the Brazilian’s 1-0 winning goal in the 50th minute for Real Madrid. Vinicius Junior accused Prestianni of racially abusing him—the match was suspended for ten minutes. Prestianni himself denied the accusation. The Argentine was subsequently suspended for the second leg, meaning he has already served one match of his suspension.
At the World Cup: Covering your mouth can be punished with a red card
Because Prestianni had also covered his mouth with his hand during the incident, discussions subsequently arose as to whether such behavior could be punished with a red card at the upcoming World Cup. President Gianni Infantino had already spoken out in favor of this: “If a player covers his mouth and says something that has racist implications, then of course he must be sent off.”
Shortly thereafter, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), of which FIFA is a member, agreed and unanimously adopted the new rule at a special meeting in late April. “At the discretion of the competition organizer, any player who covers his mouth during an altercation with an opponent may be punished with a red card,” the rulebook now states, a provision that also applies to the upcoming World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Prestianni’s World Cup chances slim
For Prestianni, FIFA’s decision could now deal a severe blow to all his World Cup hopes. It is highly uncertain whether coach Lionel Scaloni will select a player for his World Cup squad who is already suspended for most of the group stage. In any case, Prestianni has only played once for the reigning world champions, coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute of a 2-0 friendly win over Angola last November.
He was called up to the squad again in early April of this year for a match against Zambia, but despite eight substitutions, he had to sit on the bench for the entire 90 minutes. His latest World Cup suspension is likely to have further reduced Prestianni’s chances.