Infantino defends the expulsion of players who cover their mouths during confrontations.

Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sanction players who cover their mouths during confrontations could drastically change the dynamics of football. In strong statements to Sky News, Infantino argued that such players should be sent off, operating under the assumption that they are saying something they shouldn’t. This initiative comes in a delicate context, following the incident involving Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni, who lifted his shirt over his mouth while speaking to Vinicius Jr. of Real Madrid during a Champions League match.

Prestianni, a young Argentine talent, is now facing a one-match provisional suspension imposed by UEFA due to allegations of racist language, which he vehemently denies. The suspension is pending a further investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector, which may result in additional sanctions depending on the outcome of the inquiry.

Infantino emphasized that, although each individual case should be handled by the appropriate authorities, football needs to act decisively to implement measures that have a deterrent effect. “If a player covers their mouth and says something that has a racist consequence, then they should be sent off, obviously,” Infantino stated. He argued that there is a presumption that if a player feels the need to hide what they are saying, it is because they should not be saying such things. “If you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when speaking,” he concluded.

This topic was discussed at the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board (Ifab) last weekend in Wales. While there was no final consensus, it is expected that measures may be agreed upon at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30. This change, if approved, could be implemented in time for this summer’s World Cup.

Mattias Grafstrom, FIFA’s Secretary General, highlighted the importance of continuing discussions to develop measures before the tournament. “We want to keep the conversation going and potentially arrive at measures before the World Cup,” he stated. Meanwhile, Mark Bullingham, CEO of the Football Association and a member of Ifab, emphasized the necessity of consulting widely within the game to avoid any setbacks. “It is clear that when a player is talking to an opponent, there are few circumstances in which they should cover their mouth during a confrontation,” Bullingham said.

Infantino’s proposal and the discussions surrounding it gain relevance at a time when football is facing an increase in cases of racial abuse, as exemplified by the 20 incidents that Vinicius Jr. has already faced in his eight years at Real Madrid. The need for a firm and effective response to racism in football has never been more urgent, and the implementation of rules that discourage unacceptable behaviors is a priority that is being debated with growing fervor.