Players Face Red Card for Covering Their Mouths at World Cup
IFAB has approved new rules allowing referees to show red cards to players who cover their mouths during confrontations or leave the pitch to protest decisions. The changes, driven by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, will be communicated to all 48 World Cup teams ahead of the tournament starting June 11.
Soccer players who cover their mouths when confronting opponents or any other player on the field will be shown a red card under new rules approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
The board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to approve amendments sanctioned by FIFA to address misconduct ahead of the World Cup in North America.
“As decided by the competition organizers, any player who covers their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be shown a red card,” IFAB said.
The change follows a UEFA Champions League match where Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni made racist comments toward Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, pulling his shirt over his mouth to hide his words.
Another new amendment allows referees to issue a red card to players who leave the field in protest against a referee's decision. This rule also applies to any team official who persuades their players to leave the pitch in protest.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushed for the changes following a tense African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final when Senegal's team walked off the pitch.
They left the pitch during stoppage time of the AFCON final in January when hosts Morocco were awarded a penalty with the score 0-0. The match was delayed by nearly 15 minutes before Morocco's penalty was saved. Senegal scored in extra time to win the title, but were later stripped of the trophy by an appeals panel of African football's governing body. The case will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The new red card rules are not mandatory, but they allow competition organizers like FIFA to adopt them.
IFAB stated in a release that all 48 World Cup teams will be notified of the amendments in the coming weeks.
Last week, UEFA banned Prestianni for six games – three of them suspended – for verbal abuse, which UEFA described as homophobic. UEFA could not prove racist language, which Prestianni denied, though he admitted to using a homophobic slur.
If Prestianni is selected for Argentina's World Cup squad, he would miss the defending champions' first two matches in June, though the ban could be appealed.
The World Cup begins on June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.
