FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for players who cover their mouths during on-field confrontations to face automatic sanctions.
His comments follow Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior’s allegation that he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg of their Champions League playoff, with Prestianni reportedly covering his mouth while making the remarks. UEFA has since opened an investigation, suspending Prestianni for the second leg and warning of a potential 10-match ban if he is found guilty.
“If a player covers his mouth and says something that has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously,” Infantino told Sky News. “The presumption is that he has said something he shouldn’t have; otherwise, he wouldn’t need to cover his mouth. Situations like the Prestianni case were unforeseen. Of course, any disciplinary action requires careful evidence review, but going forward, we cannot simply ignore this behavior.”
FIFA also announced plans to introduce new measures ahead of the 2026 World Cup to prevent players from hiding their mouths during confrontations. At a recent International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting, English FA CEO and IFAB member Mark Bullingham said, “There are very few circumstances where a player should need to cover their mouth while confronting an opponent.”
Measures could be implemented in time for this summer’s World Cup, with next month’s FIFA Congress in Vancouver serving as a key decision point.
Infantino also suggested that accountability and apologies could play a role in addressing misconduct. “We should consider not just punishing but also encouraging cultural change—allowing players to apologize for actions done in a moment of anger, with sanctions adjusted accordingly. These are steps we must take to be serious in our fight against racism.”
