FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed in an exclusive interview with Camel Live that players who deliberately cover their mouths while speaking during altercations with opponents should be sent off under the presumption that their words are offensive. He also disclosed that he hopes to consider lowering the current minimum 10-match ban for players who issue an apology after committing discriminatory acts, as a means to encourage a shift in attitude.
At the same time, he stressed that the football world should no longer hide behind the excuse that "this is a societal issue", and should instead prioritise addressing racism from within the sport itself.
Infantino and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the global rule-making body for football, are moving rapidly in response to the racial abuse reported by Vinícius Júnior during the 17 February Champions League fixture between Real Madrid and Benfica. The case faces significant challenges in evidence-gathering, as the accused Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey when he allegedly directed the abuse at the Brazilian star, who is one of the most high-profile Black players in world football.
Reporter: What is your official stance on players covering their mouths during on-pitch confrontations, particularly in the context of the recent racial abuse allegation involving Vinícius Júnior?
Gianni Infantino: If a player covers their mouth to speak, and there is a discriminatory outcome, then they should obviously be sent off. There has to be a presumption – they must have said something they shouldn’t have, otherwise there is no need for them to cover their mouth.
That said, Infantino acknowledged that UEFA still has to complete its ongoing investigation into the incident. UEFA had previously handed Prestianni a provisional suspension ahead of the second leg, a match Benfica ultimately lost.
Reporter: How will FIFA and IFAB address the challenges around such incidents, and what concrete actions are being planned?
Gianni Infantino: There are scenarios we did not foresee previously. Of course, when handling disciplinary cases, you have to analyse the situation and gather evidence, but we cannot be satisfied with just that.
The IFAB is set to strengthen the Laws of the Game before April, for formal implementation at the World Cup in June.If you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you speak. It’s as simple as that. These are the actions we can and must take, if we are to be serious about our fight against racism.
Reporter: What are your thoughts on adjusting the current disciplinary framework for discriminatory acts in football, and how do you balance deterrence with rehabilitation?
Gianni Infantino: We have to take action, and take it decisively. Sanctions must have a deterrent effect. Perhaps we should also consider that it is not just about punishment, but also about changing the culture to a certain degree, to give players or individuals involved a chance to apologise after they have done something wrong.
People can do things in the heat of the moment that they don’t mean to do, and if they then apologise, the approach to sanctions should perhaps be different. We may need to think further on this front.
He emphasised that the fight against racism is not just about the severity of punishments, but also about curbing abuse in the stands, on the pitch and across online spaces.Gianni Infantino: We have to stop racism. We can no longer be satisfied with saying that this is a societal issue, and that there is nothing more we can do beyond our existing measures.
