FIFA President Demands Red Cards for Players Covering Mouths in On-Pitch Confrontations
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called for footballers who cover their mouths during on-pitch rows to be sent off, as part of a swift response to racism reported by Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. This action follows a Champions League match last month where the Brazilian player alleged racial abuse from a Benfica opponent.
Immediate Reaction to Racism Incident
The controversy erupted after Real Madrid's Champions League match at the Estadio da Luz in Portugal was halted for 11 minutes. Vinicius Junior informed the referee that he suffered racial abuse from Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni, who covered his mouth with his shirt during the alleged incident. Infantino, speaking to Sky News, emphasized that such behavior should result in a red card under a presumption of offensiveness.
"If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously," stated Infantino. "There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn't have said, otherwise he wouldn't have had to cover his mouth."
Challenges in Proving Racism Cases
The case involving Prestianni highlights difficulties in proving racism when players obscure their mouths. Benfica initially complained about a defamation campaign, but manager Jose Mourinho has since stated that Prestianni's career with the team would end if found guilty. UEFA has provisionally suspended Prestianni pending investigation, with Infantino acknowledging the need for thorough analysis but urging proactive measures.
"There are situations which we did not foresee," Infantino admitted. "Of course, when you deal with a disciplinary case, you have to analyse the situation, you have to have evidence, but we cannot just be satisfied with that going forward."
Strengthening Football Laws and Punishments
Infantino, in collaboration with the International Football Association Board (IFAB), plans to strengthen the laws of the game by April, aiming for implementation at the upcoming World Cup in June. He argued that covering the mouth inherently suggests hidden wrongdoing, making it a simple yet effective rule change to combat racism.
Additionally, Infantino revealed a shift in approach to punishments, proposing reduced bans for apologetic players to encourage attitude changes. "We need to act and to be decisive and it has to have a deterrent effect," he said. "Maybe we should also think about not just punishing, but also somehow allowing, changing our culture, allowing players or whoever does something to apologise."
A Broader Fight Against Racism in Football
Infantino stressed that football must prioritize addressing racism within the sport rather than attributing it solely to societal issues. He called for comprehensive efforts to stop abuse in stands, on pitches, and online, emphasizing that inaction is unacceptable.
"We have to stop racism," Infantino asserted. "We cannot just be satisfied by saying well it's a problem in society so we cannot do anything about it except what we are already doing."
This initiative marks a significant step in FIFA's ongoing battle against discrimination, with potential rule changes set to impact global football governance and player conduct standards.
