CARDIFF, Wales (AP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has raised the possibility of red cards for players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent.
The issue has been highlighted in recent weeks after Real Madrid players’ matches. Vinicius Junior says he was racially insulted By Gianluca Prestiani of Benfica during a Champions League match.
Prestiani is deny the chargesapproached Vinicius with his shirt covering his mouth during Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the playoffs. He was provisionally suspended for the second leg while an investigation was carried out.
The issue of players covering their mouths was discussed at Saturday’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting.
The measures could come into effect at this summer’s World Cup.
“If a player covers his mouth and says something that has racist consequences, of course he has to be sent off,” Infantino told Sky News. “There must be an inference that he said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth.
“I don’t understand it at all. If you don’t have something to hide, you won’t cover your mouth when you say something.
“That’s it. It’s that simple. And these are the actions we can and must take to get serious about fighting racism.”
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