FIFA president Gianni Infantino has raised the possibility of red cards for players who cover their mouths while confronting opponents if the gesture is linked to racist abuse.
The issue has gained attention following allegations made by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior. He said Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially insulted him during their Champions League playoff meeting.
Prestianni denies the allegation. During Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg, television footage showed him approaching Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey. He was provisionally suspended for the second leg while an investigation was carried out.
The matter was discussed on Saturday at a meeting of the International Football Association Board. IFAB determines and amends the laws of the game.
Infantino said football authorities must be firm when dealing with suspected racist remarks made during matches.
“If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously,” he 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.”
He added that players should not feel the need to conceal their words if there is nothing improper being said.
“I simply do not understand. If you don’t have something to hide, you don’t hide your mouth when you say something,” he said.
“That’s it, as simple as that. And these are actions that we can take, and we have to take to be serious about our fight against racism.”
Any rule change would require formal approval from IFAB before being introduced into competition. Infantino indicated that measures could be implemented in time for this summer’s World Cup if agreed.
The debate comes amid continued scrutiny over how football handles racism on the pitch. Vinicius has been subjected to racist abuse in previous matches in Spain and in European competitions.
Governing bodies have strengthened disciplinary codes in recent years. Anti-racism protocols are in place at major tournaments. However, incidents continue to occur, prompting calls for clearer and more decisive action.
For now, no amendment to the laws has been confirmed. But the discussion signals that football’s lawmakers are considering further steps to address verbal abuse and improve accountability during matches.
