What are UEFA's biggest bans as Gianluca Prestianni set to get hit with lenghty punishment

Gianluca Prestianni is currently under investigation by UEFA after accusations of racially abusing Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. and is set to face a minimum 10-match suspension.

The incident occurred in the first leg of the Champions League playoff tie between Benfica and Real Madrid.

After coming back to the centre circle after scoring, Vinicius was seen running over to referee Francois Letexier, claiming that he had heard a racial slur by Prestianni.

Footage later showed Prestianni covering his mouth and muttering something in the direction of the Brazilian. After the game, the Argentine was given an initial one-game suspension while the investigation was going on. 

With the player now looking like receiving a hefty punishment, DAZN News takes a look at five other instances in which UEFA has given out lengthy bans. 

Arsenal Tivat

In July 2025, Montenegrin side Arsenal Tivat were given a 10-year ban from European competitions after being found guilty of match-fixing. 

Uefa had found them to have breached article 11 of its disciplinary regulations as well as article 12 regarding the "integrity of matches and competitions and match-fixing".

Sporting director Ranko Krgovic and player Nikola Celebic were banned for life, whereas Cetko Manojlovic, Dusan Puletic, and Radule Zivkovic were all banned for the 10 year period.

Later that year, the length of the ban was cut down from 10 years to seven, meaning that the ban will now run until the 2031-32 season. They were also to be fined €400,000 (£349,000)

Besiktas(Getty Images)

Besiktas were handed a European ban after crowd trouble during their match against Lyon in 2017.

A cat was allowed to come onto the pitch, for which they were charged.

To stop the club from getting more sanctions, Besiktas banned their fans from travelling to away games to avoid any trouble between them and other fans.

This wasn't the first time the Turkish side had been sanctioned by UEFA after an involvement in domestic match fixing in 2013.

However, they were still permitted to compete in the Europa League that season, as well as the Champions League the following year. 

Fenerbache GETTY

Fenerbache were involved in the same scandal with Besiktas in 2013 over match fixing, incentive premiums, bribery, establishing a criminal organisation, organised crime, and intimidation occurring across Turkey's top two divisions. 

Alongside Besiktas' European ban, Fenerbache would be given a lengthier one, meaning from the 2013/14 season they would not be allowed to participate in European competitions for the next three years that they qualified for, with the third year being deferred for a five-year probationary period.

In 2014, Swiss domestic courts would reject their application for compensation, with them previously appealing if they were wrongly banned, then UEFA would have to pay compensation if necessary.

JuventusBSR Agency/Getty Images

In 2023, Juventus was found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play, and was fined $22 million and banned for one-year from competing in UEFA competitions.

The Italian club only had to pay half their fine if, for the next three years, their numbers would be within the regulations.

The previous season, they had reached the semi-finals of the Europa League and qualified for the Conference League. 

This overlapped with being deducted an initial 15 points in Serie A, but would later be cut down to 10, and would have been in the Champions League if they had not been sanctioned. 

In a response to their charges, Juventus chose not to appeal UEFA's decision.

FK Pobeda

Macedonian club FK Pobeda was banned from all European competitions for eight years in 2009.

Their club president, Aleksandr Zabrcanec, and player Nikolce Zdraveski were banned for life for breaching the principles of integrity and sportsmanship.

The match, which was being investigated, was in the first European qualifying round against FC Pyunik, based on reports in the betting industry of irregular betting patterns.

The ban on Zdraveski would later be overturned after an appeal, with the arbitrators saying they were "not satisfied by the evidence brought forward by UEFA against Mr. Zdraveski.

 

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