FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents during matches should be sent off.
Mr Infantino added to Sky News: “Referees have to start with the assumption that the players said something that they shouldn’t have said.
Infantino said individual cases should be dealt with by the relevant authorities, but football as a whole must act and act decisively to introduce a “deterrent effect”.
He added: “This issue was discussed at the International Football Association Board’s annual general meeting in Wales this weekend.”
He continued: “We have agreed to hold discussions to take steps to ensure that players do not hide what they may say to their opponents.”
Infantino said: “If a player covers his mouth and says something that has racist consequences, then of course he should be sent off.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents during matches should be sent off.
Infantino added to Sky News: “Referees should act on the assumption that the player said something that he should not have said.”
He said individual cases should be dealt with by the relevant authorities, but football as a whole must move decisively to introduce something that has a “deterrent effect”.
He continued: “This issue was discussed at the annual general meeting of the FIFA Parliament, which will be held in Wales this weekend.”
He added, “We have agreed to discuss measures to ensure that players do not hide anything they may say to their opponents.”
“If a player covers his mouth and says something that has racist consequences, he should of course be sent off,” Infantino said.
