Global Ban Extends Prestianni's World Cup Absence

Argentina winger Gianluca Prestianni may miss his country's opening World Cup matches after his six-game suspension for homophobic behavior was globally applied by FIFA. The Benfica player was originally banned by UEFA for a slur against Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. The suspension affects only competitive matches.

Argentina winger Gianluca Prestianni is facing the prospect of missing his country's opening World Cup matches. This comes after FIFA expanded his six-game suspension for homophobic conduct globally. The suspension was originally imposed by UEFA due to a slur directed at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. during a Champions League clash.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee extended the ban worldwide, as requested by UEFA, aligning with article 70 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed the decision to Reuters. If selected, Prestianni will miss Argentina's first two World Cup fixtures.

Despite having limited international experience, the 20-year-old has already missed a Champions League match due to the provisional suspension. Argentina will begin their World Cup journey against Algeria, followed by games against Austria and Jordan.