The 'Vinicius Rule'? FIFA President Gianni Infantino Suggests Red Cards For Mouth Covering
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has claimed that players who cover their mouths during verbal altercations that are racist in nature should be shown a straight red card. The proposal comes after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni allegedly subjected Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior to racial abuse. Infantino believes there should be a "presumption" of guilt, arguing that the act of hiding one's lips should be considered sufficient evidence of offensive intent. The flashpoint that triggered a FIFA response The catalyst for this potential rule change was an ugly incident during the first leg of the Champions League knockout play-off between Real Madrid and Benfica. Gianluca Prestianni allegedly directed a racial slur towards Vinicius Junior, but the exact language used remains a subject of intense debate because the Argentinian covered his mouth with his shirt. Shortly after the match, the Brazilian star issued a statement calling his abusers "cowards" for hiding behind their jerseys. Infantino pushes for 'presumption of guilt' Speaking to Sky News, the FIFA chief made his position clear on the matter: "If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously. 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. There are situations which we did not foresee. Of course, when you deal with a disciplinary case, you have to analyze the situation, you have to have evidence, but we cannot just be satisfied with that going forward." Infantino further justified his hardline stance by questioning the motives of anyone who obscures their speech on the pitch. "I simply do not understand if you don't have something to hide, you don´t hide your mouth when you say something. That's it, as simple as that. And these are actions that we can take and we have to take in order to be serious about our fight against racism. We need to act and to
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- No Data Available - BROWSE BY SPORTS & TEAMS PLAYERS SHOWS PERSONALITIES TOPICS Built on UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League The 'Vinicius Rule'? FIFA President Gianni Infantino Suggests Red Cards For Mouth Covering Published Mar. 2, 2026 2:13 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link FIFA president Gianni Infantino has claimed that players who cover their mouths during verbal altercations that are racist in nature should be shown a straight red card. The proposal comes after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni allegedly subjected Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior to racial abuse. Infantino believes there should be a "presumption" of guilt, arguing that the act of hiding one's lips should be considered sufficient evidence of offensive intent. The flashpoint that triggered a FIFA response The catalyst for this potential rule change was an ugly incident during the first leg of the Champions League knockout play-off between Real Madrid and Benfica . Gianluca Prestianni allegedly directed a racial slur towards Vinicius Junior , but the exact language used remains a subject of intense debate because the Argentinian covered his mouth with his shirt. Shortly after the match, the Brazilian star issued a statement calling his abusers "cowards" for hiding behind their jerseys. Infantino pushes for 'presumption of guilt' Speaking to Sky News , the FIFA chief made his position clear on the matter: "If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously. 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. There are situations which we did not foresee. Of course, when you deal with a disciplinary case, you have to analyze the situation, you have to have evidence, but we cannot just be satisfied with that going forward." Infantino further justified his hardline stance by questioning the motives of anyone who obscures their speech ...
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