Players should be sent off for covering their mouths – FIFA president Gianni Infantino (Video)

The week before last, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior complained about receiving racial abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during their Champions League clash. Getting to the bottom of things when this particular incident is concerned will be difficult, due to Prestianni covering his mouth while speaking to Vinicius.

However, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a player covering his mouth should be enough for him to be presumed to have said something that he shouldn’t be saying, and that should result in a straight red card. The lawmakers of the game are expected to consider this in the near future.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has told Sky News that footballers who cover their mouths in confrontations with rivals should be sent off on the presumption they are being offensive.

🔗 https://t.co/i70Raj9Gpe pic.twitter.com/9GX9629H0e

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 1, 2026