Why are red cards given to World Cup players covering their mouths?

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The Independent

1 July 2026

World Cup

officials are actively enforcing a new rule, introduced before the tournament, which mandates an immediate red card for players covering their mouths during verbal confrontations.

This directive was highlighted Tuesday night when

Ecuador

defender

Piero Hincapié

was sent off in second-half stoppage time during his team's 2-0 loss to

Mexico

in the round of 32. The red card, following an exchange with

forward Santi Giménez, did not impact the match's 2-0 outcome, but underscored the rule's strict enforcement.

open image in gallery

Ecuador defender

in the round of 32 (Getty Images)

A new

FIFA

rule, dubbed the "Prestianni Law," will allow for red cards to prevent players from hiding abusive, discriminatory, or offensive language, following a recent international soccer controversy.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino championed the change after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was accused of attempting to hide racially charged verbal insults toward Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match in February. Vinícius alleged Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey.

Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was accused of attempting to hide racially charged verbal insults toward Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior (Getty Images)

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) unanimously approved the guideline. It allows for red card penalties if players cover their mouths while verbally confronting an opponent. Though not mandatory in the Laws of the Game, the rule grants tournament organizers, like

, discretion to implement it. IFAB, including officials from

and the four British soccer federations, ratified the proposal at a special meeting.

No. Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almirón was the first player to be punished under the new rule when he was sent off in a group match against Turkey for covering his mouth during a confrontation with defender Mert Mulder.

Paraguay won 1-0, but Almiron missed Paraguay’s final group game against Australia.

said that decision was not subject to appeal.

If a player is shown a red card by an official, he is ejected from the match and must serve a one-game suspension in the following match.

The team is forced to play the remainder of the match with 10 players — putting them at a huge disadvantage — but is allowed to start the following match at full strength with 11 players, just not the suspended player. ___

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