FIFA President Gianni Infantino has opened up the possibility of players being sent off or receiving a red card if they cover their mouths during clashes with opponents.
This topic has been further discussed in recent weeks after Real Madrid footballer Vinicius Junior claimed that Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him during a Champions League match.
Prestianni, who denies the allegations, approached Vinicius while covering his mouth with his shirt during the 1-0 win in the first leg of the play-offs. He has been provisionally suspended for the return leg while an investigation is underway.
The issue of players covering their mouths was also in focus at the International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting held on Saturday.
The measures could come into effect as early as this summer’s World Cup.
“If a player covers his mouth and says something, and it has racist consequences, then he should be sent off, that’s clear,” Infantino told Sky News.
“There has to be an assumption that he said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t need to cover his mouth.”
“I just don’t understand, if you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you say something. That’s it, it’s simple. And these are steps that we can and must take to be serious in our fight against racism,” Infantino added.