Uefa has decided not to follow Fifa’s lead in introducing automatic red cards for players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent or leave the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision. The regulations, approved by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) last month at Fifa’s request, will take effect on 1 June and will be applied at the World Cup. However, Uefa’s stance means they will not apply in the men’s and women’s Champions Leagues or its other club competitions.
Fifa’s move was prompted by two major controversies this year that it is determined to avoid at the World Cup. In February, Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him while covering his mouth with his shirt during a Champions League game. Prestianni was later given a six-game ban by Uefa, with three games suspended, after being found guilty of homophobic conduct.
In January, the Africa Cup of Nations final was disrupted when Senegal players left the pitch for 15 minutes in protest at Morocco being awarded a late penalty. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the penalty, and Senegal won in extra time, but the Confederation of African Football’s appeals committee later declared Morocco 3-0 winners, a decision Senegal has appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Ifab has not mandated that the rule changes be enforced in all competitions. Uefa’s executive committee will meet for the final time this season in Istanbul on Wednesday, and it is understood no regulation changes are on the agenda. After that meeting, Uefa’s club competitions committee will sign off next season’s regulations in Leipzig next week, with no significant changes expected.
Uefa sources said its referees committee would monitor the effect of the new regulations during the World Cup with a view to discussing potential changes during next season. Domestic leagues have discretion whether to introduce the regulations. The Premier League will confirm its plans for next season after the clubs’ annual general meeting next month. Given only Fifa has committed to introducing the rules at this stage, it is unlikely they will be adopted.
