Key Takeaways:
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino has suggested footballers who conceal their mouths while speaking could be shown a red card, following recent racism claims involving Gianluca Prestianni
- The issue was addressed at the International Football Association Board meeting on Saturday
- Gianluca Prestianni was provisionally suspended for the second leg of Benfica’s Champions League tie, with a possible 10-match ban pending a UEFA investigation
Calls for Action Following High-Profile Incident
The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has called for the introduction of harsh penalties for players who obscure their mouths when communicating on the pitch, particularly in cases where racism allegations arise. This recommendation follows the recent controversy surrounding Benfica’s Argentinian forward Gianluca Prestianni, who stands accused of racially abusing Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior during a Champions League clash last month while covering his mouth with his shirt.
🚨🗣️ Gianni Infantino: “If a player covers his mouth & says something, and this has a racist consequence, he has to be SENT OFF.
“if you're not saying something offensive, then why are you covering your mouth?” pic.twitter.com/uVHmrij5FF
— Footy Rush (@FootyRush_) March 1, 2026
Infantino’s Proposed Measures and IFAB Discussion
The subject came to the forefront during Saturday’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting. Infantino told Sky News, “If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously.” He highlighted the presumption that a player concealing his mouth intends to hide inappropriate comments: “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.”
Infantino also stated, “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.”
Next Steps and Potential Changes for the World Cup
The next FIFA Congress is scheduled to take place in Vancouver next month, where football’s global governing body may decide whether to introduce rules preventing players from covering their mouths during the upcoming World Cup. Infantino further suggested that punishments for racial abuse might be influenced by whether the offender 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 added.
Infantino continued, “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.”
Status of UEFA Investigation and Potential Sanctions
Gianluca Prestianni has been provisionally suspended pending the outcome of UEFA’s investigation into last month’s incident. Should he be found guilty, he faces a possible 10-match ban. Prestianni has denied any racial abuse towards Vinicius Junior.
| Player | Allegation | Status | Potential Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gianluca Prestianni | Racial abuse against Vinicius Junior | Provisionally suspended | 10-match ban if found guilty |
