Players who cover their mouths in a verbal confrontation should be sent off, says FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Infantino wants football's lawmakers to introduce a 'presumption' of guilt and take mouth-covering as sufficient evidence that something offensive is being said.
It follows the explosive racism row involving Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni.
Vinicius Jr accused his opponent of racially abusing him in the first leg of their Champions League play-off in March, but Prestianni's exact words are still under investigation after he covered his mouth with his shirt during the flashpoint.
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.
'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.
'There are situations which we did not foresee. Of course, when you deal with a disciplinary case, you have to analyse the situation, you have to have evidence, but we cannot just be satisfied with that going forward.
'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.
'We need to act and to be decisive and it has to have a deterrent effect. Maybe we should also think about not just punishing, but also somehow allowing, changing our culture, allowing players or whoever does something to apologise.
'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.
'We have to stop racism. We cannot just be satisfied by saying "well, it's a problem in society, so we cannot do anything about it except what we are already doing."'
On Saturday, the sport's lawmakers - the International Football Association Board (IFAB) - announced that they would hold consultation on measures against discrimination and players covering their mouths.
Any changes would be ratified ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
At the IFAB's Annual General Meeting, they also approved a raft of rule changes including measures to clamp down on time-wasting and new VAR protocols.
Vinicius Jr, one of football's most prominent black players, has suffered a slate of high-profile racial abuse cases throughout his career.
Last month, he accused Prestianni of making a racist remark. The Argentinian was then provisionally banned for the second leg of Madrid and Benfica's tie, but he could get a longer-term sanction following an ongoing investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni claimed that Prestianni had admitted to making a homophobic remark instead of a racist one.
In the aftermath, Benfica manager Jose Mourinho suggested that Vini Jr had incited anger with his celebration, but he has since moderated his comments after a strong backlash from the football community, including the likes of Thierry Henry and Rio Ferdinand.
Speaking on Sunday, Mourinho said: 'If my player did not respect these principles, which are mine and Benfica's as well, then that player's career with a coach named Jose Mourinho and at a club named Benfica will come to an end.
'I am not a scholar, but I am not ignorant either. The presumption of innocence is a human right, isn't it?
'I stand by my opinion. If the player is indeed guilty, I will never look at him the way I looked at him before, and with me, it's over.
'But I have to put many "ifs" in front of it.'
EmeraldJ
1
Better!
TheHerony
0
good
irfanspengku
0
To be sincere, we should fight against racism but Vini should also try to look into his behaviour. I don't say this because I hate Vini. This is what Madrid fans have failed to understand. They think that if you are not a racist, you must be blindly defend Vini. The fact that he experiences it most should not be taken for granted. It can't be him all the time. But when you say that, Madrid fans think that you are supporting racism. We have to stop being biased.
That's what I am saying ,,, Racism is not acceptable on any basis on any level , I am just saying that people should simply think for a second why always vini when there is 1000s of black player playing there and they all get racist chants rarely but vini man ,, they should take a sec and tell vini brother look try not to manipulate the fans and let us see the results there may the racism against him stops or decrease
waycdekmot
0
another form of censorship
MumbaRk
0
English is not for everyone, the FIFA president said a player who covers his mouth in a VERBAL CONFRONTATION should be sent off. The key act is Verbal confrontation which makes sense otherwise for the Gianluca case evidence will never be found because he covered his mouth so only him knows the truth and if he decides ukufwa na no that's it
am also surprised, people only rush to the comment section
MumbaRk
0
We should all fight against racism but Vini also needs to look into his behaviour. He is not the only black player. Europe is full of black players.
and they are all being racially abused unless you are not aware
Roeadekryz
1
English is not for everyone, the FIFA president said a player who covers his mouth in a VERBAL CONFRONTATION should be sent off. The key act is Verbal confrontation which makes sense otherwise for the Gianluca case evidence will never be found because he covered his mouth so only him knows the truth and if he decides ukufwa na no that's it
RobarmChileshe
0
even if you're talking to your fellow teammate
Yumcelmo
1
True talk
Jadeiprtuz
0
its better to have each players to have a microphone to hear all what they are saying
Mawsor09
3
That’s the only fair verdict from this incident
fenbciloy
0
then dybala will get sent off every week because he covers his mouth in goal celebration with a V sign...
He said covering your mouth in a heated confrontation argument. To me he make sense. Why cover your mouth if what you say is not illegal.
SMHellas
0
then dybala will get sent off every week because he covers his mouth in goal celebration with a V sign...
Aside from what the other guy said, like he scores every week 🤣
SMHellas
0
Like every footballer who covers their mouth is saying something inappropriate. Maybe like "the keeper dives to his right, put your penalty to his left" 🤣
Vaaeory
0
then dybala will get sent off every week because he covers his mouth in goal celebration with a V sign...
Why do some of you lack logical thinking,you always misdirect your mindsets too much 🤦🏼♂️
Coolluck26
0
shut up
podinptuyz
6
We should all fight against racism but Vini also needs to look into his behaviour. He is not the only black player. Europe is full of black players.
podinptuyz
0
The problem is vini himself ,, in every team half are black by colour , there is no sign of racist chants against them and even if any it's a rare but with vini it's a normal routine why???? because he himself just focus more on the crowd then the game , always barking and acting in front of spectators and playing with their emotions .. He should grow up and have a look at his own personal actions then the circumstances will chnge positively
To be sincere, we should fight against racism but Vini should also try to look into his behaviour. I don't say this because I hate Vini. This is what Madrid fans have failed to understand. They think that if you are not a racist, you must be blindly defend Vini. The fact that he experiences it most should not be taken for granted. It can't be him all the time. But when you say that, Madrid fans think that you are supporting racism. We have to stop being biased.
buhaknotuy
2
Well Said! 🫡
Jaobempsu
5
yes I agree if you cover your mouth red card
rodcdklmuz
1
See this bald corrupt man talking!!!
poekmrty
0
The problem is vini himself ,, in every team half are black by colour , there is no sign of racist chants against them and even if any it's a rare but with vini it's a normal routine why???? because he himself just focus more on the crowd then the game , always barking and acting in front of spectators and playing with their emotions .. He should grow up and have a look at his own personal actions then the circumstances will chnge positively
Ask urself within those half black players, who's better than Vini junior? Judge with the circumstances not with emotions
Kkrexuke
0
then dybala will get sent off every week because he covers his mouth in goal celebration with a V sign...
irfanspengku
0
you don't have sense....
yeah , all th sense are within you who just support anyone without looking into the scenerios blindly jump in any situation.. Look Mr sense , I am myself strictly against racism , I am with vini or any other human facing racism on any basis ,, what I am telling is vini should control his extra , unrequired emotions during game , no provocations to fans , no reason to boo him or chant against him thats it .. If you can understand what I am saying then ok but if you can't then plz dnt rply of react just ignore and keep jumping anywhere without any context .
irfanspengku
0
You need to grow up and learn the difference between banters and racism. Banters make the game more interesting to watch not racism.
I am not comparing racism and banters you are doing this... I am just saying that vini should control his extra mouth working during match in front of the opponent fans .
Executioner1
2
Justice to Iran 🇬🇶
Yorokiri
4
Why always Vini, if you're in a school and your name always comes up in a place of trouble, even if you're innocent you need to start asking questions of yourself... Why always me...
donreal1990
0
The problem is vini himself ,, in every team half are black by colour , there is no sign of racist chants against them and even if any it's a rare but with vini it's a normal routine why???? because he himself just focus more on the crowd then the game , always barking and acting in front of spectators and playing with their emotions .. He should grow up and have a look at his own personal actions then the circumstances will chnge positively
you don't have sense....
wenbimnpt
1
this is what I said..he should have apologized immediately instead of escalating things
fehceinprz
0
The problem is vini himself ,, in every team half are black by colour , there is no sign of racist chants against them and even if any it's a rare but with vini it's a normal routine why???? because he himself just focus more on the crowd then the game , always barking and acting in front of spectators and playing with their emotions .. He should grow up and have a look at his own personal actions then the circumstances will chnge positively
You need to grow up and learn the difference between banters and racism. Banters make the game more interesting to watch not racism.
irfanspengku
5
The problem is vini himself ,, in every team half are black by colour , there is no sign of racist chants against them and even if any it's a rare but with vini it's a normal routine why???? because he himself just focus more on the crowd then the game , always barking and acting in front of spectators and playing with their emotions .. He should grow up and have a look at his own personal actions then the circumstances will chnge positively
Neadenpstu
1
Funny you comment, mainly it's towards vini, so that must tell you something about vini,
runaelosyz
2
good
SpeedRashyDon10
1
And diving too
Stillogh
0
All these racism shit