FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a strong directive, urging referees to immediately show a red card to players who cover their mouths while speaking to opponents on the pitch. Infantino explicitly stated that such actions by players are often intrinsically linked to racial discrimination, warranting instant dismissal from the game.
Speaking to Sky News, the Swiss FIFA President emphasized the critical need for match officials to take decisive action against players engaging in this specific behavior. He firmly believes that conversations held with a hand or shirt covering the mouth are unacceptable and should not be tolerated in professional football, often implying an attempt to conceal discriminatory language.
This resolute push from the FIFA chief comes approximately two weeks after a notable incident involving SL Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni. During the first leg of a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 playoff match, Prestianni was accused of covering his mouth with his shirt while allegedly making discriminatory remarks towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. Following this incident, Prestianni, an Argentine player, received a one-match suspension from UEFA for the alleged discriminatory comments. However, UEFA’s final disciplinary decision is currently pending further investigation into the specific circumstances surrounding the event.
Infantino elaborated on his stringent stance, explaining that while individual cases should ideally be addressed by relevant disciplinary bodies, the immediate and fast-paced nature of football demands swift, decisive action to curb unsporting conduct during matches. He directly instructed match officials on the seriousness of the issue: “If a player covers their mouth and says something, then that is an act linked to discriminatory behavior. In such cases, the player must be immediately sent off.” He further added a simple, guiding principle: “If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn’t cover your mouth when you say something. It is a very straightforward matter to resolve.”
The significant topic of players covering their mouths while speaking to opponents was a central point of discussion at the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) held in Wales. The primary aim was to explore and establish robust measures to effectively regulate and prevent players from engaging in such actions. While IFAB may not have reached an immediate consensus on implementing a new specific rule to this effect, the creation of this new regulation could be officially decided and put into effect at the upcoming FIFA General Assembly, which is scheduled for April 30th in Vancouver.
Should this proposed new rule be approved, it is widely anticipated to be in force for major international tournaments, including the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
