{"id":86716,"date":"2026-04-29T15:28:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T15:28:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/red-cards-for-mouth-covering-approved-ahead-of-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T15:28:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T15:28:45","slug":"red-cards-for-mouth-covering-approved-ahead-of-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/red-cards-for-mouth-covering-approved-ahead-of-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Red cards for mouth-covering approved ahead of World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Apr 28, 2026, 03:01 PM ET<\/span><\/div>\n

Players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent will be sent off at this summer’s World Cup.<\/p>\n

FIFA proposed toughening the sanctions after Real Madrid forward Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior said he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who covered his mouth while talking to the Brazilian during a Champions League match in February.<\/p>\n

Vin\u00edcius was visibly upset following the comment and immediately informed the referee, with play halted for 10 minutes in line with UEFA regulations.<\/p>\n

– FIFA plans to combat mouth-covering after Vin\u00edcius Jr. incident<\/strong><\/p>\n

Any similar incident at this summer’s World Cup will now result in a red card after the rules were strengthened by unanimous agreement at a meeting of the game’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board, in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

An IFAB statement outlining the law change read: “At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.”<\/p>\n

UEFA announced last Friday that Prestianni had been given a six-match ban in relation to the incident for discriminatory conduct that was anti-gay in nature, with three of the games suspended for two years and one already served on a provisional basis.<\/p>\n