CARDIFF, Wales — FIFA may soon crack down on players who cover their mouths while speaking on the field.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested that players could face red cards if covering their mouths leads to racist or inappropriate remarks. The move comes after Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior alleged he was racially insulted by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League playoff match, where Prestianni reportedly hid his mouth with his jersey while speaking.
Prestianni denies the allegations and was provisionally suspended for the second leg while an investigation continues.
Speaking to Sky News, Infantino said: “If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously. There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn’t have said.”
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) discussed the matter on Saturday, and measures could take effect as early as this summer’s World Cup, reinforcing FIFA’s stance against racism in the sport.