Why Are World Cup Refs Giving Red Cards to Players Covering Their Mouths when Confronting Opponents?
FIFA is enforcing a new World Cup rule that brings an immediate red card for players who cover their mouths during confrontations.
- On Tuesday, Ecuador defender Piero Hincapi was sent off during his team's 2-0 loss to Mexico following an exchange with Mexico forward Santi Gimenez, demonstrating FIFA's strict enforcement of the Prestianni Law.
- FIFA established the rule, nicknamed the Prestianni Law, following a controversy this year involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, who was accused of concealing insults toward Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.
- The International Football Association Board unanimously approved the guideline, which mandates ejection and a one-game suspension, forcing teams to play with 10 players before returning to 11.
- Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player punished under the new rule, sent off during a group match against Turkey for covering his mouth while confronting defender Mert Mulder.
- While not mandatory within the official Laws of the Game, the policy gives tournament organizers like FIFA discretion to implement it as officials actively enforce the regulation to prevent players from hiding abusive language.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Why are players sent off for covering their mouths?
The 2026 World Cup, now over halfway passed, has seen its fair share of drama, but mouth-covering dismissals reign supreme.These peculiar sending-offs have virtually no footballing precedent, and it has now occurred twice in North America.The biggest tournament in football introduced a series of fresh rules prior to this edition, but why exactly was it deemed necessary to dismiss players who cover the mouth?Sent off for covering the mouth: The P…
Why Players Are Getting Red Cards For Covering Their Mouths During FIFA World Cup 2026
World Cup players were warned before the tournament about a new rule that would result in an immediate red card for anyone covering their mouth when verbally confronting another player.
Los Angeles Times
World Cup players were warned before the tournament about a new rule that would result in an immediate red card for anyone covering their mouths by verbally confronting another player.
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