Players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents on the pitch will be issued red cards at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the International Football Association Board has unanimously agreed.
The rule change, approved at a special meeting in Canada on Tuesday, was inspired by a controversial dispute between Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League game in February.
It was about 50 minutes into the playoff match when Vinícius scored the first goal and incensed Benfica fans with his dancing celebration. Prestianni went to speak with Vinícius but kept his mouth covered with his jersey. Vinícius walked away visibly upset and immediately went to speak to the referee, prompting a stoppage and an investigation.
Vinícius told reporters after the game that Prestianni directed a racial slur at him, which Prestianni denied. Kylian Mbappé backed his Real Madrid teammate, saying he heard Prestianni call Vinícius a “monkey” five times.
Prestianni denied the claim, telling UEFA officials that he used an anti-gay slur, not a racist slur. He was later handed a six-game suspension specifically for homophobic discrimination. The penalty for racist abuse would have been 10 games.
The dispute sparked international headlines and condemnation across the soccer world, with many calling for rules against players obscuring what they say during arguments.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino supported the idea that a player should be sent off in such cases if there is a question of racist abuse, adding that he didn’t understand why someone would try to hide.
“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,” Infantino said.
The board also approved a second rule change: players who leave the field because of issues with referees’ rulings will also receive red cards.
