Sports · 25 February 2026
Uefa upholds Prestianni ban after appeal
kyselak via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Benfica attempted to overturn UEFA’s temporary one-match suspension imposed on Gianluca Prestianni ahead of their Champions League second leg against Real Madrid. The Portuguese club formally contested the decision but acknowledged privately that the timing made any reversal unlikely before Wednesday’s decisive fixture. As anticipated, the appeal did not alter the outcome, leaving the Argentine youngster sidelined. UEFA’s interim ruling therefore stood, forcing Benfica to proceed without Prestianni for the crucial encounter in Madrid.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs