Attention, Prestianni: colleague’s testimony led to conviction in 2021.

By lastmanpredict@gmail.com On Feb 18, 2026

Racism in sports, and in football in particular, is far more prevalent than one might expect in the 21st century.

And with regard to games sanctioned by UEFA, the punishments are usually not light, which shows the organization’s fight to eradicate unacceptable discriminatory attitudes.

Most of the time, the incidents involve fans, but it’s the clubs that end up paying the fines and suspensions.

Earlier this season, in November, Atlético Madrid was punished with a fine of 30,000 euros and a one-match away game without fans (suspended for one year), after fans of the Spanish club were caught making monkey gestures and Nazi salutes during a visit to Arsenal .

The most serious consequences, however, occur when the protagonists of the game are involved, as in the case where Prestianni is accused of insulting Vinícius Júnior in the game between Benfica and Real Madrid .

In 2021, Czech player Ondrej Kudela was suspended for 10 games after racist provocations against Glen Kamara were confirmed during a match between Rangers and Slavia Prague , the team the defender represented.

In this case, Kudela uttered the insult in his opponent’s ear and was convicted based on the testimony of Bongani Zungu, Kamara’s teammate, who stated that he had heard the Czech player’s words.

It should be recalled that after the game at the Luz stadium, Kylian Mbappé stated in the mixed zone that he heard Prestianni “call Vini a monkey five times”.

At the time, Kudela expressed surprise at the punishment, believing there was no concrete evidence against him. However, despite Slavia Prague’s appeal, the punishment was enforced, causing the defender to miss Euro 2020 (held in 2021), for which he had been called up.

The Rangers player’s lawyers have complained that the lightest penalty stipulated in UEFA regulations for racism cases was applied, which remains a 10-match suspension.

Furthermore, then as now, there have been voices raised calling for punishments for players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents. Former Dutch international Clarence Seedorf, quoted by The Guardian , was one of the most vehement.

“If a player covers their mouth to speak to their coach or teammates, it’s acceptable, but when addressing the referee or an opponent, in any sport, covering the mouth should not be allowed. It should be punishable by a yellow card.”

It should be noted that it was Mikael Silvestre, former French international and member of FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel, who raised this issue for debate.