NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA handed Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni a six-game ban on Friday for verbally abusing Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game earlier this season.
A UEFA statement said Prestianni's comments were “discriminatory (i.e. homophobic) conduct.”
UEFA said three of those six games were on probation, and he has already served one game of a provisional punishment already. That means Prestianni will initially only need to serve out two more games of the suspension, which UEFA said could include appearances with Argentina at the World Cup if he were selected for the June tournament.
Argentina’s first two games are against Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City and Austria five days later in Arlington.
The 20-year-old winger made his first and only appearance for Argentina in a friendly in November.
If he is not selected by Argentina for the World Cup in North America, he will serve his ban in UEFA club competitions.
The incident happened during a game in Lisbon in February.
The game was halted for nearly 10 minutes after the Brazil forward scored and celebrated by the Benfica corner flag, upsetting local fans and players. After being confronted by Prestianni, Vinícius accused the Argentine player of calling him a “monkey.”
Prestianni reportedly denied using the term “mono," Spanish for “monkey," but admitted to using a homophobic slur directed at Vinícius.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni watches the ball during a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Juventus and Benfica in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, January.21, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
NEW YORK (AP) — Tamar Braxton opened a spirited 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony Thursday night with a tribute to a new inductee — the game-changing R&B songwriter, producer and rapper Christopher “Tricky” Stewart — with one of the biggest songs he's known for: Beyoncé's “Single Ladies.”
A few other tracks he's responsible for? Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Mariah Carey's “Touch My Body” and Justin Bieber's “Baby.”
Dallas Austin, a songwriter and producer known for work with Boyz ll Men and Madonna, introduced Stewart. “Think about that catalog,” he said, listing off those zeitgeist-shifting records. “Those are cultural moments."
Stewart thanked God, his family, artists he's worked with and mentors — giving a special shout out to Grammy award-winning music producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid and the iconic singer-songwriter Babyface. “I wanted to be like L.A. and Baby,” he reflected.
It set the tone for an event with a lot to celebrate. The gala, held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, also features a wide variety of inductees: Taylor Swift, Kiss’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins, the songwriting duo Terry Britten and Graham Lyle (known for Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It"), and songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You").
Swift has no doubt brought new eyes to this year's ceremony, and with good reason — her songwriting has undeniably shaped contemporary pop music trends. She is the youngest woman to ever be inducted in the Hall of Fame. (The man who beat her? Stevie Wonder, who started his recording career at 13, it was announced on stage.)
Kiss founders Simmons and Stanley — fresh off the band’s farewell — will also be recognized for their glam rock classics “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Love It Loud.”
In addition to Swift, Simmons and Stanley, nominees this year include the soft rock legend Loggins (“Footloose,” “Danny’s Song”) and the alt-rock icon Morissette (“You Oughta Know,” “Ironic”).
Last year's inductees included George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, The Beach Boys’ Mike Love and Tony Macaulay.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Some already in the hall include Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.
Taylor Swift attends the 55th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Tamar Braxton performs during the 55th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Sombr, left, and Taylor Swift attend the 55th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Paul Stanley of Kiss attends the 55th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Kenny Loggins attends the 55th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Sombr, from left, Taylor Swift, and Jimmy Jam attend the 55th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
This combination of images shows songwriters, from left, Kenny Loggins, Alanis Morissette, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Taylor Swift. (AP Photo)
