FIFA president Gianni Infantino has spoken out following a storm of racism surrounding Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestiani in the Champions League.
Gianni Infantino (Image: Getty Images)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has revealed that players who lift their shirts above their faces while chatting with rivals could be sent off. The actions of players have come under the spotlight in recent weeks, following a storm of racism involving Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestiani.
The latter was accused of making racist remarks against Brazilians after hiding his face. Prestiani reportedly denies the accusations and claims he used homophobic slurs.
UEFA launched a full investigation into the incident, which resulted in Prestiani being provisionally suspended. FIFA is reportedly considering sanctions for players covering their mouths, and Infantino confirmed this.
He told Sky News: “If a player covers his mouth and says something and it has racist consequences, then of course he has to be sent off.”
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read more: Jose Mourinho breaks his silence after criticism of Vinicius Junior scandal and Benfica oathread more: FIFA considers enacting ‘Vinicius Law’ following racism scandal between Benfica and Real Madrid
“There must be some presumption that he said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth. I just don’t understand it. If you don’t have something to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you say something.”
Infantino added: “That’s it, it’s that simple. And these are the actions we can and must take to take the fight against racism seriously.”
Discussion around this rule is considered to be in its early stages, and no imminent introduction is expected. However, the proposal has the backing of the English Association, which forms the International Football Association Board (IFAB) alongside FIFA, and the idea was floated at a technical meeting earlier this week.
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Gianluca Prestiani has been accused of making racist remarks towards Vinicius Jr. (Image: Getty Images)
Former Manchester United manager and current Benfica manager Jose Mourinho has taken a tough stance on the Vinicius and Prestianni situation this weekend. Mourinho said: “If the player is guilty, I will never look him in the eye again and he has ended his relationship with me. But I have to insert a lot of ‘what ifs’ in front of me.”
He added: “I am against all forms of discrimination and racism. If my players do not respect these principles, which are also the principles of Benfica, then his career as a coach Mourinho and at a club like Benfica will be over.”
“I always have to insert an ‘if’ because the presumption of innocence is a right,” he said. “Unfortunately, even if UEFA found Article 4206328 as a reason for suspension in order to ensure that the player was suspended from the match, they failed to include the ‘if’ that should have been there.”
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