FIFA wants to ban the gesture of covering the lips, often used by footballers, after a racist incident in the Benfica - Real Madrid match.

FIFA has announced a plan to ban the gesture of covering the lips, a practice frequently encountered among footballers, including Romanians, to prevent their words from being read on their lips. The decision comes in the wake of the scandal during the Benfica - Real Madrid match, in which Vinicius accused player Gianluca Prestianni of a racist attack for covering his lips during a discussion. The match was suspended for 10 minutes. Mikael Silvestre, a member of FIFA's anti-racism committee, stated that it is essential to sanction this behavior, emphasizing that it is not about tactics, but about hate. Additionally, Prestianni could face a severe suspension if the racism allegations are confirmed.