Sports | FIFA FIFA Considers Red Cards for Covering Mouths in Clash President says action might be needed in fight against racism By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Mar 2, 2026 4:38 PM CST Copied Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni fights for the ball against Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during a Champions League playoff soccer match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Rocha) FIFA President Gianni Infantino has raised the prospect of red cards being shown to players who cover their mouths when confronting opponents. The issue has been highlighted in recent weeks after Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior said he was racially insulted by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match. Prestianni, who denies the allegations, had approached Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey during Madrid's 1-0 win in the first leg of the playoff match, the AP reports. He was provisionally suspended for the second leg while an investigation was being carried out. The issue of players covering their mouths was discussed on Saturday at a meeting of the International Football Association Board. Measures could take effect at this summer's World Cup. "If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously," Infantino told Sky News. "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." He added that the action has to be taken "in order to be serious about our fight against racism." Read These Next One critical island in Iran has remained unscathed in airstrikes. FBI alert alleges Iran might have its eye on a US state. Girl who vanished in 2020 in California is found in North Carolina. Iran's new supreme leader is said to already have war wounds. Report an error