Infantino said individual cases should be dealt with by the relevant bodies...

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said players who cover their mouths during heated exchanges on the pitch should be sent off by referees, arguing the gesture suggests they may be using offensive language.

Speaking in comments reported by Sky Sports News, Infantino said that when players shield their mouths while arguing with opponents or officials, it raises suspicion about what is being said.

“This is on the presumption they are being offensive – as if you’re not saying something offensive, then why are you covering your mouth?” he said.

Infantino’s remarks come amid ongoing efforts by football’s governing body to clamp down on dissent and abusive behaviour towards referees and fellow players.

Under the current Laws of the Game, referees can issue yellow or red cards for offensive, insulting or abusive language and gestures. However, covering the mouth during a confrontation is not, in itself, an automatic offence.

Infantino suggested officials should take a firmer stance, saying the act of concealing speech during on-field disputes could be treated as an indication of misconduct.

The proposal is likely to prompt debate among players, coaches and referees over how intent would be judged and whether such a measure could be consistently enforced across competitions.

Infantino was speaking less than two weeks after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt over his mouth while speaking to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game.

The Argentina international has since been given a provisional one-match ban by UEFA for alleged use of racist language, which he denies.

The ban was imposed pending the result of a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector, and Prestianni could be punished further once the investigation is complete.