FIFA could now introduce a new rule, dubbed the ‘Prestianni Law’, following the incident that marred Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Benfica and Real Madrid.
Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was accused by Real Madrid’s players of racially abusing Vinicius Jr early in the second half of the knockout phase play-off first leg at Estadio da Luz. Kylian Mbappe claims the Argentine called Vinicius Jr a “monkey” five times while covering his mouth with his shirt.
French referee Francois Letexier haled the match for 10 minutes before play resumed. Prestianni continued playing until the 81st minute before being substituted by manager Jose Mourinho.
The 20-year-old has strenuously denied the allegations made against him, writing on his Instagram story after Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory: “I want to clarify that at no point did I direct racist insults at Vinicius Jr, who unfortunately misunderstood what he thought he heard. I have never been racist toward anyone. And I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.”
Proving exactly what Prestianni said may prove difficult - if not impossible - for FIFA and UEFA due to the fact Prestianni was covering his mouth at the time of his alleged comment towards Vinicius Jr. In a controversial tweet, Benfica argue “the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard” based on footage they posted on X (Twitter).
'Prestianni Law' Could Close Loophole
Gianluca Prestianni vs Real Madrid
Gianluca Prestianni vs Real Madrid
As a result, beIN Sports are reporting that FIFA is now considering introducing a new rule to close the ‘loophole’ that ‘concerns international soccer’.
The report states that FIFA is preparing a proposal that will see players sanctioned if they deliberately cover their mouths while insulting an opponent. The new ‘Prestianni Law’ aims to ‘close a disciplinary loophole that has complicated investigations in cases involving alleged verbal abuse.’
Despite the vast technology used inside stadiums at the highest level of football, it can become virtually impossible to determine what a player says if they cover their mouth with either their hand or jersey.
Prestianni and Vinicius Jr
Prestianni and Vinicius Jr
The sight of elite footballers covering their mouths to have private conversations with teammates and opponents has become commonplace over the past couple of decades. However, as demonstrated with the Prestianni incident, the ambiguity it causes poses a significant challenge for governing bodies when investigating serious issues.
beIN Sports claim the so-called ‘Prestianni Law’ emerged from FIFA’s Player Panel - a group of former professional players working on strategies to combat hate speech in football. The law would help to distinguish between normal tactical conversations and gestures that are clearly intended to conceal insults.
While the proposal remains under discussion for now, footballers could soon find themselves sanctioned if they deliberately cover their mouths to avoid potential punishment - regardless of whether the exact words can be definitely proven or not.
If found guilty of the accusations against him, Prestianni faces a 10-match UEFA ban. As things stand, though, he remains free to play in next week’s second leg between Real Madrid and Benfica at the Bernabeu.