{"id":5934,"date":"2026-07-01T17:08:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=5934"},"modified":"2026-07-01T17:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:08:13","slug":"why-are-world-cup-refs-giving-red-cards-to-players-covering-their-mouths-when-confronting-opponents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=5934","title":{"rendered":"Why are World Cup refs giving red cards to players covering their mouths when confronting opponents?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Referee Slavko Vincic of Slovenia speaks to Ecuador\u2019s Piero Hincapie (3) before sending him from the field during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo\/Natacha Pisarenko)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

World Cup<\/a> players were warned before the tournament about a new rule that would result in an immediate red card for anyone covering their mouth<\/a> when verbally confronting another player.<\/p>

Read more 15-year-old prodigy Sooryavanshi left out again by India for 1st T20 against England<\/a><\/p>\n

Officials are actively enforcing that rule change.<\/p>\n

The latest incident came on Tuesday night<\/a> when Ecuador defender Piero Hincapi\u00e9 was sent off in second-half stoppage time of his team\u2019s 2-0 loss to Mexico<\/a> in the round of 32. The red card didn\u2019t impact the outcome of the match, which ended moments later.<\/p>\n

Hincapi\u00e9\u2019s red card came after an exchange with Mexico forward Santi Gim\u00e9nez.<\/p>\n

FIFA established the new rule to prevent players from hiding abusive, discriminatory or offensive language while on the field.<\/p>\n

Nicknamed the \u201cPrestianni Law,\u201d rules for red cards to players at the World Cup<\/a> were added because of a controversy in international soccer this year.<\/p>\n

FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for changes after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults toward Real Madrid forward Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior in a Champions League match. Soccer\u2019s rule-making panel, the International Football Association Board, agreed that players can be penalized with a red card if they cover their mouths when verbally confronting another player.<\/p>\n

The rule is not mandatory within the Laws of the Game<\/a> but gives tournament organizers like FIFA the option to use it at their discretion.<\/p>

Read more League in FIFA\u2019s home nation Switzerland rejects World Cup-style mandatory drinks breaks<\/a><\/p>\n

The rule change was unanimously approved by IFAB, which includes officials from FIFA and the four British soccer federations, at a special meeting ahead of the FIFA Congress. FIFA\u2019s proposal followed Vin\u00edcius, backed by Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, accusing Prestianni of making a racially charged insult while raising his jersey to cover his mouth during the game in February.<\/p>\n

No. Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almir\u00f3n<\/a> was the first player to be punished under the new rule when he was sent off in a group match against Turkey for covering his mouth<\/a> during a confrontation with defender Mert Mulder.<\/p>\n

Paraguay won 1-0, but Almiron missed Paraguay\u2019s final group game against Australia. FIFA said that decision was not subject to appeal.<\/p>\n

If a player is shown a red card by an official, he is ejected from the match and must serve a one-game suspension in the following match.<\/p>\n

The team is forced to play the remainder of the match with 10 players \u2014 putting them at a huge disadvantage \u2014 but is allowed to start the following match at full strength with 11 players, just not the suspended player. ___<\/p>

Read more NBA free agency: Norman Powell to Chicago in another All-Star move as teams continue shaping rosters<\/a><\/p>\n

See more of AP\u2019s World Cup coverage here<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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