Chelsea will face off against Leeds United at Wembley Stadium on Sunday as they look to secure a good result in the semifinals of the FA Cup. The Blues suffered a dismal 3-0 loss away at Brighton and Hove Albion recently, so they would be eager to put in a much-improved showing this weekend. The […] The post Joao Pedro To Lead The Line | 4-2-3-1 Chelsea Predicted Lineup Vs Leeds United appeared first on The 4th Official - A view from the sideline.

Chelsea confirmed on Friday that Estêvão will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has called on the Gunners board to seal a deal to sign Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to reports.

Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane confirmed Estevao has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, while his World Cup participation is in doubt. The Brazilian was forced off in the first half of Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United last weekend after a sprint down the wing. Estevao has played 36 games across all […] The post Estevao ruled out for remainder of the season with hamstring injury appeared first on Soccer News.

UEFA on Friday handed Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni a six-match ban for anti-gay conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior during their Champions League match in February.

Chelsea interim coach Calum McFarlane did not provide a timeframe for Estevao’s recovery after he sustained the injury in the first half of last week’s game against Manchester United.

Real Madrid player had alleged he was racially abused The incident is likely to result in an Ifab law change Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has been banned for six European matches after being found guilty of homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. With three matches of the ban suspended for a two-year period, Prestianni may end up sitting out only two further games after he served a one-game provisional ban after the incident. Uefa, however, announced it would ask Fifa to extend the suspension’s remit to include international matches, which would mean the Argentina international would miss the first two games of the World Cup.

A tense Champions League night involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior has now reached a decisive conclusion, yet the full story is far more complex than it first appeared. A tense UEFA Champions League night involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior has now reached a decisive conclusion, yet the full story is far more complex than it first appeared. The incident, which unfolded during a high-stakes clash between Benfica and Real Madrid, initially sparked serious allegations that threatened to overshadow the match itself. Now, with a suspension confirmed, the focus has shifted to understanding exactly what happened and why the final ruling took an unexpected turn. The controversy began shortly after Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal in the match, triggering an emotional reaction on and off the pitch. Soon after, an argument broke out near the corner flag. Television footage showed Prestianni speaking while covering his mouth with his shirt, prompting Vinicius to immediately approach referee Francois Letexier. The official then activated UEFA’s anti-discrimination protocol, stopping the match for around ten minutes while the matter was reviewed. That stoppage created instant headlines across Europe, with many assuming UEFA would be investigating allegations of racist abuse. Real Madrid players also reacted strongly in defense of their teammate after the final whistle. @tntsports pic.twitter.com/Fp4yhjWbg9 — ‘ (@YrcQo) February 18, 2026 Conflicting accounts and strong reactions In the immediate aftermath, several figures offered differing interpretations of the incident. Real Madrid players, including high-profile teammates, supported Vinicius’ version of events, with some claiming they heard offensive language directed at him during the confrontation. Prestianni, however, firmly denied the initial accusations. “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard,” he said, insisting his words had been misinterpreted in the heat of the moment. The situation escalated further when Vinicius later responded publicly, stating: “Racists are, above all, cowards.” The statement underscored how seriously he viewed the incident and intensified calls for a thorough investigation. Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica speaks towards Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. UEFA investigation reveals the key twist After weeks of review, UEFA’s disciplinary body delivered its verdict—and this is where the story took a different direction. The governing body confirmed a six-match suspension for Prestianni, but clarified that the punishment was issued for discriminatory conduct of a different nature than initially alleged. UEFA confirmed Prestianni was sanctioned for “discriminatory conduct (i.e. homophobic conduct).” The ban includes three matches suspended over a two-year probation period, while one match had already been served during the earlier provisional suspension, leaving two further matches to be completed. That means Prestianni is effectively banned for two more matches unless he commits another offense during the probation period. UEFA also formally requested that FIFA extend the sanction worldwide, potentially impacting international competitions. Portuguese outlet Record reports that Benfica does not plan to appeal the decision, despite having a short window to do so. Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica speaks towards Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. Could the ban affect Argentina? Another major consequence is that the suspension could extend beyond club football if FIFA approves UEFA’s request. Since Prestianni has already made his senior Argentina debut, the punishment could theoretically apply to international fixtures. That raises the possibility of missing national team matches, and potentially even World Cup-related games if selected in the future. For a 20-year-old player trying to build momentum, that would be a significant setback.

Gianluca Prestianni has been given a six-match ban by UEFA for discriminatory conduct towards Vinicius Junior.