FIFA considers ‘Prestianni Law’ after Vinicius Jr racism allegations
FIFA is considering introducing a new regulation dubbed the ‘Prestianni Law’ to punish players who cover their mouths to conceal insults following racism allegations involving Vinicius Jr.
World football’s governing body is reportedly preparing a proposal to close a disciplinary loophole that complicates investigations into verbal abuse.
The potential change follows a controversial incident during Real Madrid’s Champions League victory over Benfica at the Estadio da Luz.
Allegations mar Champions League clash
Real Madrid players accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing Vinicius Jr during the second half of the knockout tie.
Kylian Mbappe claimed the 20-year-old called the Brazilian forward a “monkey” five times while obscuring his mouth with his shirt.
French referee Francois Letexier halted proceedings for 10 minutes before play eventually resumed.
The Argentine youngster remained on the pitch until the 81st minute before being substituted by manager Jose Mourinho.
Closing the loophole
According to reports from beIN Sports, FIFA’s Player Panel has suggested the new measures to combat hate speech.
The proposed rule would see sanctions applied to individuals who deliberately cover their mouths to hide offensive language from cameras and officials.
Current technology and lip-reading techniques are often rendered ineffective when players shield their faces during confrontations.
While shielding the mouth for tactical discussions is commonplace, the new mandate aims to distinguish these moments from gestures intended to conceal abuse.
Prestianni denies abuse claims
The Benfica player released a statement via Instagram following Real Madrid’s 1-0 win, strenuously denying the accusations.
“I want to clarify that at no point did I direct racist insults at Vinicius Jr, who unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard.”
Prestianni added that he had never been racist toward anyone and expressed regret regarding threats received from opposition players.
Benfica have supported their player, releasing footage on social media arguing that the Real Madrid squad could not have heard the alleged comments.