Key Takeaways
- Footballers who hide their mouths when facing opponents may receive immediate red cards at the 2026 World Cup.
- Walking off the pitch to protest a referee’s decision will also result in dismissal under the new protocols.
- The regulations follow recent disputes involving the Africa Cup of Nations final and an incident between Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni.
Officials have approved strict new rules for this summer’s World Cup. Players could now be sent off for covering their mouths or leaving the field in anger.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) confirmed the changes before the FIFA Congress in Vancouver. The tournament begins in June.
Referees may now show a straight red card to any player who covers their mouth while confronting an opponent. This measure aims to stop footballers from hiding abusive comments.
Another new rule targets protests. Any player who walks off the pitch to dispute a decision will face dismissal. Coaches who tell players to leave will also face sanctions. If a team forces a match to end early, they will normally lose by forfeit.
These changes come after two major controversies. In February, Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racial abuse while the latter covered his mouth with his shirt. UEFA later banned Prestianni for six matches for homophobic remarks.
The other incident involved the Africa Cup of Nations final. Several Senegal players left the pitch after the referee awarded a late penalty to Morocco. The delay lasted several minutes. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the spot-kick, and Senegal won in extra time. The Confederation of African Football later overturned the result and awarded the trophy to Morocco, though Senegal has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino called for tougher action after both events. However, some European leagues have raised concerns. They worry that victims of racist abuse might receive red cards if they walk off the pitch in protest.
IFAB stated that other competitions do not have to use these rules. Each tournament organiser must decide whether to adopt them.