FIFA Introduces Red Card for Players Who Cover Mouths

FIFA Introduces Red Card for Players Who Cover Mouths – World football governing body FIFA has announced new rule changes ahead of this year’s FIFA World Cup, including stricter sanctions aimed at combating racism and misconduct on the field.

Under the new regulations, players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents may be issued a red card.

In a statement, FIFA said: “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.”

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The rule follows recent controversy involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, who was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match. Although Prestianni denied the allegations, he was later banned for six matches for “homophobic conduct.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino supported the move, stating: “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.”

In a separate development, FIFA also announced that players who leave the field in protest of a referee’s decision may also receive a red card.

“At the discretion of the competition organizer, the referee may sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision,” FIFA said.

The governing body further warned that any team causing a match to be abandoned would forfeit the game.