FIFA may treat World Cup players covering their mouths like they used a slur
If World Cup players cover their mouths during an altercation with opposing players, FIFA may slap them with a red card.
Mark
FIFA is taking some pretty strong action to secure its ability to pursue investigations of alleged racial and homophobic abuse at the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to the BBC, players could receive a red card if they cover their mouths during a confrontation with an opponent. Obviously particular language is going to get a player tossed from a match, but now trying to hide from the cameras what’s being said between opponents will be considered guilt by the on-field officials.
It would be treated kind of like refusing to take a breathalizer test during a traffic stop. The police can’t force you to take the test, but if you refuse, you’re going to jail just like you’d tested 0.15%.
Your lawyer gets to sort it out afterward.
The rule has been changed after an incident earlier this year involving Benfica star player Gianluca Prestianni. Benfica is a pro soccer club that plays in Lisbon, Portugal.
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Related
Argentina soccer star’s ban for gay slur could see him miss out on World Cup
UEFA has asked FIFA to “extend worldwide” Gianluca Prestianni’s suspension for use of a gay slur, which could affect the winger’s World Cup participation with Argentina.
During a Champions League match in February against Real Madrid, Prestianni was originally charged with using a racial slur against Madrid player Vinicius Junior. He was later found guilty of using gay slurs or homophobic language during the match, and he was slapped with a six-match suspension.
Forty-eight teams will descent on North America in June to compete or the coveted World Cup title. They’ll be coming from every continent (well, almost — the Antartica Penguins FC are staying home) including powerhouses like Germany, Argentina and Brazil, as well as first-time FIFA World Cup competitors Curaçao, Jordan, Cape Verde and Uzbekistan.
Gianluca Prestianni should be playing for his home country of Argentina in the World Cup, though his suspension for language just might carry into the World Cup.
Argentina won the FIFA World Cup four years ago, drawing with France in regulation during the final, then taking the title on penalty kicks, 4-2.
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