2026 World Cup: Covering Your Mouth Will Get You Sent Off Under New FIFA Rule

Football’s most powerful governing body has responded swiftly and decisively to one of the sport’s most controversial recent incidents. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved a new rule that would penalize players with a red card if they cover their mouths when verbally confronting another player, unanimously passed at a special meeting held in Vancouver, British Columbia. The rule will change how arguments are handled on the field at the 2026 World Cup — and it stems from one of the most controversial moments in recent football.

What the Rule States

“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,” IFAB said. Under the new guidance, referees will have the authority to issue a red card if a player deliberately covers their mouth while speaking to an opponent or official during a heated exchange. The measure will be in place at this summer’s World Cup, starting on June 11.

The Incident That Changed the Rules

The genesis of this rule lies in a toxic encounter during the Champions League knockout play-off in February 2026, when Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racial slur toward him during a heated exchange. Prestianni meticulously pulled his jersey over his mouth while speaking, and neither the match officials nor broadcast technology could verify the exact words. It was about 50 minutes into the Champions League playoff game when Vinícius scored the first goal and incensed Benfica fans with his dancing celebration.

Prestianni went to speak with Vinícius but kept his mouth covered with his jersey. Vinícius walked away visibly upset and immediately went to speak to the referee. Moments later, the referee threw his arms up in a crossed gesture, beginning a protocol indicating an allegation of racist abuse, prompting a stoppage of play and investigation. No action was taken during the match because of a lack of evidence in the moment. Kylian Mbappé backed his Real Madrid teammate in interviews and said he heard Prestianni call Vinícius a “monkey“, saying “He said it five times.”

UEFA’s Response

UEFA announced Prestianni would be punished with a six-game suspension specifically for homophobic discrimination, with the penalty for racist abuse being a 10-game suspension. 1Prestianni’s ban was officially for homophobic conduct rather than racism, largely because there was not enough clear evidence due to the mouth-covering — and that gap in evidence is exactly what FIFA is trying to eliminate by penalizing the act of covering the mouth itself during confrontations.

IFAB’s Vancouver Meeting

IFAB held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to pass FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behaviour ahead of the World Cup in North America. The rule is not mandatory within The Laws of the Game but gives competition organisers like FIFA the option to use it. FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for changes after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults toward Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game and Senegal’s team walked off the field to protest a referee’s decision in a heated and chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final.

New Rule Summary

Another new amendment permits officials to issue red cards to players who leave the field in protest of a referee’s decision. It also applies to any team official who convinces their team’s players to walk off in protest. This move follows the uproar at the Africa Cup of Nations final, when Senegal’s players, head coach and staff walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco were awarded a penalty in added time. Senegal won the final 1-0 in extra time, but were sensationally stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a bombshell decision.

FIFA’s Gianni Infantino Backs the Rule

This “Zero-Tolerance” policy, spearheaded by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, marks a radical shift in football’s legal framework, introducing a “presumption of guilt” for players who choose to hide their speech from cameras and lip-readers. 

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the change is designed to act as a deterrent against abusive behavior. “If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously,” he said.

The Controversy Surrounding Enforcement

Despite the new rule, the final decision will remain in the hands of the referee, who will assess each situation individually before issuing a red card. Another reason players cover their mouths is the loud atmosphere in a stadium, which can make it difficult to be heard even at close range — raising questions about how referees will differentiate between tactical communication and suspected abuse. It is still unclear how consistently referees will apply it, or how players will adapt, but it could significantly change how confrontations are handled during matches.

Impact on Argentina’s Prestianni at the World Cup

If Prestianni is selected for Argentina’s World Cup squad, he must sit out the defending champions’ first two matches in June, although the ban can be appealed. IFAB said in its statement that all 48 teams competing in the World Cup will be informed of these amendments in the coming weeks. 

The FIFA World Cup 2026, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is the first with 48 participating nations, and will be held from June 11 to July 19.

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