In a significant development, players at the World Cup could face a red card if they cover their mouths while speaking to opponents during confrontations. The decision was taken during a special meeting of the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in Vancouver, Canada.
Two FIFA-proposed law amendments were approved at the meeting. One pertains to players covering their mouths during confrontations with opponents, and the other relates to players leaving the pitch in protest against referee's decisions. Both these changes have been approved as competition opt-ins by Ifab and will be adopted at this summer's World Cup.
The issue of players covering their mouths gained prominence in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game. Accused of racist abuse, Prestianni was provisionally banned for one match but later found guilty of homophobic conduct following a UEFA investigation, leading to an extended six-match ban - three of which were suspended.
This incident led to discussions at Ifab’s annual general meeting where it was agreed that members would reconvene ahead of this week's Fifa Council in Vancouver.
Referee discretion on red cards
The decision remains entirely up to the referee who will consider all circumstances before issuing a red card. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has backed this move stating he wanted something that has "a deterrent effect".
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, said:
"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.
"If you do not have something to hide, you don't hide your mouth when you say something. That's it, as simple as that."
In another incident that sparked rule changes, Senegal left the field and returned to changing rooms protesting against a penalty awarded to Morocco during Africa Cup of Nations final. Although Senegal went on winning 1-0 after returning back onto field, Confederation of African Football (CAF) later stripped Senegal of the title and awarded Morocco a 3-0 win.
The new rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the pitch. A team causing a match to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the match. This move is seen as an attempt by FIFA and Ifab to maintain discipline on and off the field during matches. These new rules aim at ensuring fair play, maintaining discipline and deterring unsportsmanlike conduct in football games. The effectiveness of these changes will be observed in this summer's World Cup.
