FIFA is exploring a potential 'Vinicius Law' to sanction players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents, following an alleged racist incident involving Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during a Champions League play-off against Benfica. The Brazilian forward accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of abuse in the February 17 match in Lisbon, which paused play for 10 minutes. Prestianni denies the allegation, and an investigation continues.
The incident occurred during Real Madrid's 1-0 away win over Benfica on February 17, 2026, in a Champions League play-off clash in Lisbon. Vinicius Junior scored the decisive goal five minutes into the second half and celebrated in front of the home fans. Shortly after, he reported alleged racist abuse from a Benfica player to referee Francois Letexier, leading to a 10-minute stoppage in line with UEFA regulations. Real Madrid later identified the player as midfielder Gianluca Prestianni, who was seen covering his mouth while appearing to speak to Vinicius.
Prestianni has vehemently denied using racist language. UEFA imposed a provisional ban on the Argentinian winger on Monday, ruling him out of the tie, though he traveled with the Benfica squad to Madrid. Benfica appealed the decision, but UEFA dismissed it on Wednesday afternoon.
In the return leg on Wednesday, Vinicius started and scored in the 80th minute, securing a 2-1 win on the night and a 3-1 aggregate victory for Real Madrid, advancing them to the last 16.
Post-match, Vinicius shared his frustration on Instagram in Portuguese: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are.”
FIFA has raised the idea of a 'Vinicius Law' at a technical meeting on Friday, ahead of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) annual general meeting in Wales on Saturday. The proposal aims to deter such behavior by sanctioning mouth-covering. Insiders say the British associations, part of IFAB alongside FIFA, are receptive, though practical enforcement would require careful consideration. No formal proposal is expected immediately.
FIFA also discussed increasing penalties for players walking off the pitch, from a yellow to a red card, following the Africa Cup of Nations final chaos. FIFA has been approached for comment.
