Footballers who cover their mouths should be fired – Gianni Infantino

Gianni Infantino, president of soccer’s world governing body, says players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents during duels should be sent off.

Infantino told Sky News, external He believed that referees should work on the assumption that players said “something they shouldn’t have said”.

He was speaking less than two weeks after Benfica winger Gianluca Pristiani raised his shirt over his mouth while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match.

The Argentine international was suspended for one match by UEFA over allegations of using racist language, which the player denies.

The ban has been imposed pending the outcome of a full investigation by the Ethics and Discipline Inspector, and Prestiani may face further punishment once the investigation is complete.

Infantino said individual cases should be dealt with by the relevant bodies, but football more broadly must “act and be decisive” to achieve something that has a “deterrent effect.”

The issue was discussed at the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in Wales this weekend.

It was agreed that consultations would be held to establish procedures to prevent players from concealing what they might say to an opponent.

“If a player covers his mouth and says something, and that has racist consequences, then obviously he should be sent off,” Infantino said.

“There must be a presumption that he said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth.

“If you have nothing to hide, don’t hide your mouth when you say something. That’s it, simple as that.”