FIFA president Gianni Infantino has suggested that players who cover their mouths while speaking to opponents could be sent off if their actions are linked to racist abuse.
His comments follow allegations that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially abused Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match last month while covering his mouth with his shirt.
The issue was raised at Saturday’s meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for the laws of the game.
“If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously,” Infantino told Sky News.
“There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth.
“I simply do not understand—if you don’t have something to hide, you don’t hide your mouth when you say something. That’s it, as simple as that.
“And these are actions that we can take and we have to take in order to be serious about our fight against racism.”
Possible Rule Changes
The next FIFA Congress is scheduled to take place next month in Vancouver, where football’s governing body could consider implementing measures to stop players from covering their mouths during matches, potentially as early as this year’s World Cup.
Infantino also floated the possibility of varying punishments for racist abuse depending on whether the offending player issues a public apology.
“Maybe we should also think about not just punishing, but also somehow allowing, changing our culture, allowing players or whoever does something to apologise,” he said.
“You can do things that you don’t want to do in a moment of anger (and) apologise and then the sanction has to be different, to move one step further and maybe we should think about something like that as well.”
Ongoing Investigation
Prestianni was provisionally suspended for the second leg of the Champions League tie pending the outcome of a UEFA investigation.
He could face a 10-match ban if found guilty. The player has denied racially abusing Vinícius Júnior.
What you should know
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed that players who cover their mouths while speaking, particularly in cases linked to alleged racist abuse, could face immediate red cards.
The suggestion follows allegations against Gianluca Prestianni involving Vinícius Júnior.
FIFA may consider formal measures at its upcoming Congress, as part of broader efforts to strengthen football’s fight against racism.
