Football’s world governing body has approved sweeping disciplinary measures that could see players sent off during the upcoming FIFA World Cup for covering their mouths while speaking during on-field confrontations.
The decision was reached at a FIFA Council meeting held in Vancouver, Canada, where proposed amendments to the laws of the game were endorsed. The changes, which have also been cleared as optional competition rules by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), are set to be enforced at this year’s global tournament.
Under the new guidelines, players who deliberately conceal their speech, particularly in heated exchanges, risk receiving a red card if their actions raise suspicions of misconduct, including discriminatory language. Match officials will, however, retain full discretion in applying the sanction based on the context of each incident.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the move, stressing its role as a deterrent against inappropriate behaviour on the pitch.
“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.
If you do not have something to hide, you don’t hide your mouth when you say something. That’s it, as simple as that.”
The issue gained prominence earlier this year during a UEFA Champions League clash involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. Prestianni was initially accused of racist abuse after appearing to cover his mouth while speaking, but a subsequent UEFA investigation found him guilty of homophobic conduct, resulting in a six-match suspension, with three matches suspended.
The controversy prompted discussions at IFAB’s annual general meeting in Wales, where the matter was flagged for further consideration by FIFA.
In addition to the mouth-covering rule, FIFA has introduced stricter penalties for teams that protest refereeing decisions by walking off the pitch. Such actions could now lead to immediate red cards for players involved, as well as sanctions against team officials who incite the protest.
The rule change follows chaotic scenes at the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, where Senegal players temporarily abandoned the field in protest over a penalty decision. Although they later returned to complete the match—eventually winning 1-0—the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.
FIFA has indicated that any team responsible for the abandonment of a match could automatically forfeit the game under the new regulations.
With these measures, football’s governing authorities aim to reinforce discipline, curb unsporting conduct, and promote transparency in player interactions on the global stage.
