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Players who cover mouths face red card at World Cup
TL;DR
Players at the World Cup may receive a red card for covering their mouths during confrontations. This rule change was approved by the Fifa Council in response to recent incidents in football.
Key points
- Players covering mouths may receive a red card at the World Cup
- Fifa Council approved two law amendments in Vancouver
- Gianluca Prestianni banned for homophobic comments
- Players leaving the pitch in protest could face penalties
- Incidents at Africa Cup of Nations influenced rule changes
Mentioned in this story
Gianluca PrestianniVinicius Jr
Real MadridMoroccoSenegal
Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni was banned for six matches, three suspended, for homophobic comments aimed at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr [Getty Images]
Players at the World Cup could face a red card if they cover their mouths when speaking to opponents during confrontations.
The decision was taken during a special meeting of the Fifa Council in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday, where two Fifa-proposed law amendments were approved.
Players who leave the pitch in protest at a referee's decisions could also now face a red card, following ugly scenes at the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
Both law changes have been approved as competition opt-ins by the International Football Association Board (Ifab).
Fifa has confirmed they will be adopted at this summer's World Cup.
The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game.
The Argentina international was accused of racist abuse and provisionally banned for one match. Following a Uefa investigation, Prestianni was found guilty of homophobic conduct and banned for six matches - three of which were suspended.
Q&A
What new rules were approved by the Fifa Council regarding player conduct?
The Fifa Council approved rules that penalize players with a red card for covering their mouths during confrontations and for leaving the pitch in protest at referee decisions.
Why was Gianluca Prestianni banned from play?
Gianluca Prestianni was banned for six matches, three of which are suspended, due to homophobic comments aimed at Vinicius Jr.
What incident prompted the new red card rule for players leaving the pitch?
The new rule was prompted by ugly scenes during the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
How will the new mouth-covering rule affect players at the World Cup?
Players at the World Cup who cover their mouths while speaking to opponents could face a red card, impacting their participation in matches.
