“FIFA extends punishment to Prestianni and threatens the forward’s participation in the World Cup.”

FIFA escalates punishment for Prestianni: Benfica forward risks missing World Cup kickoff!

The scandal involving Gianluca Prestianni appears far from over and could cost him dearly on the grandest stage of football: the World Cup. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided on Wednesday to globally extend the suspension that UEFA imposed on the young Argentine forward from Benfica, in a decision that could see him miss Argentina’s first two matches in the tournament taking place this year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

It is worth recalling that Prestianni, who is just 20 years old, was initially sanctioned with a six-match suspension, three of which were suspended, for homophobic conduct. The penalty stemmed from a controversial incident during a Champions League match in February against Real Madrid, which involved a direct confrontation with Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian accused the Argentine of making racist insults, an allegation that Prestianni vehemently denied on social media. However, following an investigation, UEFA decided to punish the player for having directed homophobic remarks at his opponent.

Now, FIFA has confirmed that the punishment will be applied worldwide, meaning that if Prestianni is called up for the World Cup by the Argentine national team, he will not be able to play against Algeria and Austria, the first two opponents of the world champions in the group stage. This restriction could have a decisive impact on the Albiceleste’s attack, as the young player is still trying to consolidate his place in the national team, having only one official cap, although he has already been called up for friendly matches in March against Mauritania and Zambia.

Despite the extent of the punishment, Prestianni remains eligible for Benfica’s last two matches in the Portuguese League, against SC Braga and Estoril, as well as for Argentina’s friendly match against Honduras, scheduled for June 7. FIFA clarified that the worldwide suspension applies only to official competitions of the UEFA and FIFA, not covering friendly or national games.

It is important to highlight that the original punishment from UEFA stipulated that half of the suspension would be served immediately, while the remaining three matches were suspended for a probationary period of two years. Prestianni has already served one of these matches of punishment, having been provisionally suspended for the second leg of the Champions League playoff against Real Madrid on February 25, while investigations were ongoing.

The incident that triggered all this controversy was Prestianni’s controversial act of covering Vinícius Júnior’s mouth with his jersey during the match. This action not only led to the application of FIFA’s protocol for racial abuse by referee François Letexier, but also resulted in the creation of a new regulation — a law now bearing Prestianni’s name — aimed at penalizing players who address opponents with their mouths covered, a maneuver deemed disrespectful and provocative.

Although Vinícius initially reported racist insults, the investigation concluded that the punishment should focus on homophobic offenses, with Prestianni accused of having called the Brazilian “maricón” (a derogatory term for gay) rather than using racist terms such as “mono” (monkey).

This case continues to evolve and is expected to remain in the spotlight until the start of the World Cup, sending a severe warning about player behavior both on and off the field. Prestianni’s reputation is at stake, as is his participation in one of the largest sporting events on the planet.

Stay tuned for all updates on this developing case and keep up with the latest news from the world of football!

This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).