Covering Mouth While Provoking, Unauthorized Departure for Disagreeing with Referee: FIFA World Cup New Red Card Rules
FIFA has revised its red card regulations for the upcoming World Cup in June. Players who cover their mouths while provoking opponents during verbal confrontations, or who leave the field without permission to protest a referee's decision, may face a red card. This revision addresses two major controversial incidents in recent international football matches.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 19:23
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 19:31 (7 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 02:36 (7h 4m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Vancouver, Canada, 28th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) In view of two major controversial incidents in international football matches this year, the red card penalty regulations for the World Cup, which kicks off in June, have been revised and updated. In the future, players who cover their mouths when verbally provoking opponents may receive a red card.
The Associated Press reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushed for the revision and update of the red card penalty regulations, stemming from two incidents this season: Gianluca Prestianni, a Benfica player, allegedly covering his mouth to insult Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr in the Champions League, and Senegal team players leaving the field in protest of a referee's decision during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, causing chaos at the scene.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), responsible for formulating the rules, unanimously approved today in a special meeting in Canada that if a player deliberately covers their mouth during a verbal confrontation with an opponent, the referee may issue a red card warning depending on the circumstances.
This regulation is not yet mandatory in the globally applicable 'Laws of the Game,' but it grants tournament organizers such as FIFA the flexibility to choose whether to adopt it.
FIFA's proposal originated from Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr's accusation in a February match this year that Prestianni deliberately pulled up his jersey to cover his mouth and racially abused him. This accusation was later supported by Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé.
Last week, UEFA sanctioned Prestianni with a six-match ban, three of which were suspended, for the verbal abuse incident. UEFA stated that while Prestianni admitted to using homophobic remarks, he denied racial discrimination, and there was currently insufficient evidence to substantiate the racial discrimination accusation.
IFAB stated: 'Tournament organizers may decide that any player who covers their mouth in confrontation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.'
In addition, IFAB also agreed that any player who leaves the field without authorization to protest a referee's decision will also face a red card. This regulation also applies to team officials who instigate players to leave the field.
In the Africa Cup of Nations final in January this year, Senegal and host country Morocco drew 0-0 at injury time. Senegal players left the field in protest of a penalty awarded to Morocco by the referee, causing the match to be interrupted for nearly 15 minutes.
Although Senegal later saved the penalty and won the championship in extra time, the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football stripped Senegal of its championship title. The case is currently being heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
IFAB stated that the relevant revisions will be notified to all 48 teams participating in the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which kicks off on June 11. (Compiler: Liu Shu-qin) 1150429
Stand with the facts, every donation you make is a force for safeguarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
(Central News Agency, Vancouver, Canada, 28th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) In view of two major controversial incidents in international football matches this year, the red card penalty regulations for the World Cup, which kicks off in June, have been revised and updated. In the future, players who cover their mouths when verbally provoking opponents may receive a red card.
The Associated Press reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushed for the revision and update of the red card penalty regulations, stemming from two incidents this season: Gianluca Prestianni, a Benfica player, allegedly covering his mouth to insult Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr in the Champions League, and Senegal team players leaving the field in protest of a referee's decision during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, causing chaos at the scene.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), responsible for formulating the rules, unanimously approved today in a special meeting in Canada that if a player deliberately covers their mouth during a verbal confrontation with an opponent, the referee may issue a red card warning depending on the circumstances.
This regulation is not yet mandatory in the globally applicable 'Laws of the Game,' but it grants tournament organizers such as FIFA the flexibility to choose whether to adopt it.
FIFA's proposal originated from Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr's accusation in a February match this year that Prestianni deliberately pulled up his jersey to cover his mouth and racially abused him. This accusation was later supported by Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé.
Last week, UEFA sanctioned Prestianni with a six-match ban, three of which were suspended, for the verbal abuse incident. UEFA stated that while Prestianni admitted to using homophobic remarks, he denied racial discrimination, and there was currently insufficient evidence to substantiate the racial discrimination accusation.
IFAB stated: 'Tournament organizers may decide that any player who covers their mouth in confrontation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.'
In addition, IFAB also agreed that any player who leaves the field without authorization to protest a referee's decision will also face a red card. This regulation also applies to team officials who instigate players to leave the field.
In the Africa Cup of Nations final in January this year, Senegal and host country Morocco drew 0-0 at injury time. Senegal players left the field in protest of a penalty awarded to Morocco by the referee, causing the match to be interrupted for nearly 15 minutes.
Although Senegal later saved the penalty and won the championship in extra time, the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football stripped Senegal of its championship title. The case is currently being heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
IFAB stated that the relevant revisions will be notified to all 48 teams participating in the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which kicks off on June 11. (Compiler: Liu Shu-qin) 1150429
Stand with the facts, every donation you make is a force for safeguarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.