Gianni Infantino, the president of UEFA, has called for stricter penalties for players who cover their mouths during on-field disputes, suggesting that it should be assumed they have said something inappropriate.
This statement follows an incident where Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racial abuse during a Champions League playoff match, with Prestianni reportedly covering his mouth at the time.
In the wake of the accusation, UEFA has initiated an investigation, which has resulted in Prestianni being suspended for the second leg of the match. If found guilty, he could face a ban of up to ten matches.
“If a player hides his mouth while speaking, and it leads to a racist implication, he should be sent off without question,” Infantino told Sky News.
“There should be a presumption that he has said something wrong; otherwise, he wouldn’t feel the need to cover his mouth.”
“Clearly, there are scenarios, like the Prestianni case, that we did not anticipate. When dealing with disciplinary matters, it is essential to assess the situation and collect evidence; however, we cannot be complacent moving forward.”
FIFA has announced it plans to implement measures before the 2026 World Cup to discourage players from covering their mouths during confrontations, as discussed at the recent meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Mark Bullingham, CEO of the English FA and an IFAB member, stated, “It’s apparent that when a player is engaging with an opponent, there are very few justifiable reasons for them to cover their mouth.”
– FIFA aims to tackle mouth-covering after Vinícius Jr. incident
– Benfica refutes claims that Prestianni admitted to racially abusing Vini
– Explained: The meaning of ‘Prima Facie’ related to Prestianni’s suspension
Proposals are anticipated to be finalized and adopted in time for the upcoming World Cup, with the FIFA Congress in Vancouver next month serving as a crucial event for these discussions.
Infantino has also stressed the importance of encouraging accountability among players. “We should consider not only punishment but also creating an environment where players feel they can apologize for their actions,” he remarked. “It’s possible to act out of anger and later seek to make amends, which should influence the nature of the consequences. We must take meaningful steps to seriously combat racism.”
PA contributed information to this report.