UEFA Suspends Benfica Winger Over Racism Claims

UEFA has issued a provisional one-match suspension for Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni while an investigation into alleged racist abuse of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior continues. The ban is immediate, preventing Prestianni from participating in the upcoming second leg of their Champions League play-off tie.

This unusual step by UEFA is intended to de-escalate tensions surrounding the fixture, which was marred by the initial allegations. Benfica expressed regret over the player's unavailability and confirmed their intention to appeal the decision, acknowledging that an appeal is unlikely to be heard before the match.

Real Madrid has firmly backed Vinicius Junior, who has previously faced significant racial abuse. Several Real Madrid players have reportedly sent signed statements to UEFA in support of their teammate's claims. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with UEFA emphasizing the suspension is without prejudice.

Separately, the article touches on potential high-profile transfers to Major League Soccer, including advanced talks for Antoine Griezmann, and discusses the league's calendar alignment with the World Cup. It also mentions Benjamin Sesko's recent goal-scoring form for Manchester United and a significant goalkeeping error by Werder Bremen's Mio Backhaus.