FIFA is poised to introduce two significant alterations to red card regulations in advance of the 2026 World Cup. The governing body will announce that players covering their mouths to confront opponents will result in an automatic sending-off during the tournament. This measure is part of a broader overhaul of disciplinary rules, prompted by recent high-profile incidents.
New Rule on Covering Mouths
According to reports, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to confirm the change at the organisation's congress in Vancouver on Thursday. The rule will apply specifically to the World Cup and will not be enforced in other competitions unless passed by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) as part of the official Laws of the Game.
The decision follows controversy surrounding Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni, who was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr earlier this season. Prestianni lifted his shirt over his mouth during the incident, an action Infantino later condemned. Infantino stated: "If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously. There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn't have said, otherwise he wouldn't have had to cover his mouth."
Prestianni denied the racial abuse allegations, claiming he had used a homophobic slur instead. An investigation ensued, resulting in a six-match ban for Prestianni after being charged with using homophobic language. Benfica confirmed the sanction in a statement: "Sport Lisboa e Benfica announces that it has been notified by UEFA of the sanction imposed on the player Prestianni for using anti-gay language during the Benfica v Real Madrid match. The player has been handed a six-match ban, three of which are suspended for two years. Of the three-match effective ban, one has already been served and the remaining two must be served in UEFA matches or Argentina national team matches in a FIFA context."
Hardline Stance on Leaving the Pitch
In addition to the mouth-covering rule, FIFA is adopting a firm approach regarding teams leaving the pitch in protest of refereeing decisions. Any player who leaves the field of play will be instantly dismissed. This decision stems from an incident at the African Cup of Nations, where Senegal left the pitch for several minutes after Morocco was awarded a controversial penalty.
However, concerns have been raised about this new rule, particularly in situations where players walk off in response to racial abuse, which may not be appropriately addressed by such a blanket policy.
