FIFA President Hints at Red Cards for Mouth-Covering Confrontations

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has floated the possibility of automatic red cards for players who cover their mouths while confronting opponents, a move aimed at curbing discriminatory language on the pitch. The proposal surfaced during Saturday’s meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and could be implemented in time for this summer’s World Cup.

The debate gained traction after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior alleged that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially insulted him during the first leg of their Champions League playoff, a match Madrid won 1-0. Television images showed Prestianni approaching Vinicius with his jersey pulled over his mouth. Prestianni denies the accusation and was provisionally suspended for the return leg while an investigation continues.

Speaking to Sky News, Infantino framed the issue in stark terms: “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.”

The FIFA chief emphasized that the measure is part of football’s broader responsibility to combat racism, stating, “These are actions that we can take and we have to take in order to be serious about our fight against racism.”

IFAB is expected to fast-track discussions, with the new directive potentially coming into force at the tournament in the coming months.