FIFA approves tougher ‘shut-up’ penalty

FIFA wants to tighten the penalties, after what happened to the Real Madrid player Vinicius Juniorwho said he was subjected to racist abuse by Benfica’s Portuguese player, Gianluca Pristiani, who shut his mouth when speaking to the Brazilian during a Champions League match last February.

Vinicius looked very upset after the comment and immediately informed the referee, which led to a 10-minute suspension according to UEFA rules (UEFA).

Anything like this at this summer’s World Cup could result in him receiving a red card, with the rules reinforced by unanimous consent at a meeting of the International Football Association Board, the body that governs the game, in Vancouver on Tuesday.

A statement issued by the Council explaining the rule change stated: “The referee may, at his discretion, punish any player who has closed his mouth during an argument with an opponent with a red card.”

And that was it FIFA He floated the idea of ​​punishing players who cover their mouths at the International Football Association Board’s annual meeting in Wales in February, after the incident.