Football’s rule-making body, the International Football Association Board, has unanimously approved a FIFA-backed measure allowing competitions to issue red cards to players who cover their mouths during verbal confrontations with opponents, in a move aimed at tackling discriminatory abuse and improving on-field transparency. The decision was taken at a special IFAB meeting in Vancouver ahead of Thursday’s FIFA Congress, and will be available for use at the discretion of tournament organisers rather than becoming a mandatory Law of the Game change.
The change followed a Champions League incident in February involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior. UEFA later banned Prestianni for six matches, with three suspended for a two-year probationary period, after finding he engaged in homophobic conduct during the game. UEFA said it could not prove an alleged racial insult, which Prestianni denied, though he admitted using a homophobic slur.
IFAB also agreed that players who leave the field to protest a referee’s decision may be shown a red card, with the same sanction available for team officials who encourage such action. That amendment was shaped by the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in January, when Senegal’s players temporarily walked off in protest after Morocco were awarded a penalty. Senegal later won the match on the field, but CAF stripped them of the title and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory; Senegal has since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
IFAB said the amendments will be communicated to all 48 teams competing at the World Cup starting June 11. The changes underline FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s push for stricter behaviour standards at a time when football authorities are under growing pressure to respond more forcefully to abuse, disorder and player dissent.
