HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
In a firm step to confront racism in stadiums, FIFA President Infantino called for the expulsion of any player who deliberately covers their mouth during verbal altercations if they are found to have uttered racist remarks, as part of the International Federation's efforts to tighten penalties against discrimination in all its forms.
The call came after Brazilian Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid's star, accused Argentine Gianluca Prestiati, Benfica player, of making discriminatory insults during a match, and despite the player's denial of any violation, he was suspended from the return match pending the results of official investigations. Specialized football agencies reported that this file was discussed during a meeting of the FIFA Council, where Infantino stressed the need to punish players who cover their mouths, describing the behavior as an indicator of the possibility of uttering inappropriate words. Infantino told Sky News: "If a player covers his mouth and says a racist phrase, he should of course be expelled. If you have nothing to hide, you won't need to cover your mouth." This step confirms that combating racism in football is no longer slogans, but decisive measures applied directly inside the stadiums.
