UEFA have confirmed that they will not follow FIFA in enforcing automatic red cards for any players caught covering their mouth while speaking to an opponent during games.
A number of new rules were introduced by FIFA ahead of the 2026 World Cup including laws around trying to conceal speech, with Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron the first player to be sent off for doing so. Piero Hincapie of Arsenal was then shown a red card in Ecuador’s Round of 32 defeat to Mexico for doing the same.
The issue of players covering their mouth while speaking was heightened back in February when Vinicius Jr alleged Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him, with the Benfica midfielder using his shirt to cover his mouth during an exchange between the pair on the pitch.
Prestianni was found guilty of homophobic conduct following a UEFA investigation and subsequently subjected to a six-match ban, three of which were suspended.
The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, introduced the rule which is being implemented at the World Cup as a “deterrent.”
But it has now emerged that UEFA will not follow suit, meaning players competing in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League will not automatically be sent off for covering their mouth during any confrontations with opponents.
Instead, UEFA say it will be down to match officials to act on a case-by-case basis to consider whether a yellow card is warranted if there is “an attempt to conceal communication as an act of unsporting behaviour”, rather than a straight red card.
View 2 ImagesArsenal’s Piero Hincapie was shown a red card for covering his mouth while speaking in Ecuador’s meeting with Mexico(Image: Martín Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
While UEFA will not follow FIFA’s lead on red cards for players covering their mouths, they will utilise VAR to verify corner decisions.
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To date, 22 incorrect corners have been overturned at the World Cup. And the same powers will be enforced in next year’s European competitions to avoid any incorrect calls.
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