Infantino suggests players could be sent off for covering their mouths in confrontation

CARDIFF, Wales — Players who cover their mouths while confronting opponents could soon be shown an automatic red card, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has warned, as world football’s lawmakers weigh sweeping disciplinary changes that could debut at this summer’s World Cup.

The issue vaulted into global headlines after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior alleged that Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him during the Champions League playoff first leg in Lisbon on 17 February 2026. Prestianni, who denies the claim, was seen approaching Vinicius with his jersey pulled over his mouth moments after the Brazilian scored the match’s only goal. He was provisionally suspended for the return leg while investigators review the incident.

Speaking at Saturday’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting, Infantino said the episode underlines why referees need clearer tools to police misconduct: “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, 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.”

IFAB members will fast-track the proposal and could ratify the rule change in time for the 2026 World Cup, shifting disciplinary responsibility onto the act of concealing one’s mouth rather than requiring officials to hear or lip-read offensive language.

Infantino’s comments signal the most aggressive crackdown yet on verbal abuse in football, placing mouth-covering at the center of the sport’s anti-racism agenda.