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FIFA has approved a new disciplinary measure that will allow referees to issue a red card to players who cover their mouths during confrontational exchanges with opponents, as part of a wider set of law changes aimed at strengthening anti-discrimination efforts in football.
The decision was confirmed following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver. The rule will come into effect at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Under the new regulation, competition organisers will have discretion to sanction players who are deemed to be concealing speech during on-field confrontations. FIFA stated that the measure is intended to discourage abusive or discriminatory conduct and improve accountability among players during matches.
The move follows heightened scrutiny earlier this year after an incident involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match. Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Vinicius while covering his mouth during an on-field exchange.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed support for the initiative, arguing that covering the mouth in such situations may indicate an attempt to hide inappropriate language. He stated that players who have “nothing to hide” would not need to conceal their speech during interactions on the pitch.
In a separate amendment, IFAB also approved a rule permitting referees to issue a red card to players who leave the field of play in protest at refereeing decisions. Team officials who incite such actions may also be sanctioned, while matches abandoned due to protest could result in forfeiture.
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