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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 and will be implemented at the upcoming tournament.
Key points
- Players may receive a red card for covering their mouths
- New rules approved by the Fifa Council in Vancouver
- Red card for leaving the pitch in protest also introduced
- Changes will be adopted at the summer World Cup
- Approved as competition opt-ins by Ifab
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.
The issue was discussed at the Ifab annual general meeting in Wales later that month where it was agreed the matter would be on the agenda at the Fifa Council.
The decision remains at the absolute discretion of the referee, who will consider all circumstances before issuing a red card.
'If you do not have something to hide, you don't hide your mouth'
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he wanted to bring in something which has "a deterrent effect" and backed a red card.
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 the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal left the field and returned to the changing rooms in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco.
When the players eventually returned Brahim Diaz chipped his Panenka penalty into the hands of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Senegal went on to win 1-0.
But the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has since stripped Senegal of the title and awarded Morocco a 3-0 win.
This new rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the pitch.
A team that causes a match to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the match.
Q&A
What new rules could lead to a red card at the World Cup?
Players could receive a red card for covering their mouths when speaking to opponents and for leaving the pitch in protest against referees.
When will the new red card rules be enforced in football?
The new rules will be enforced at the upcoming World Cup this summer.
Why were the new red card rules introduced by FIFA?
The rules were introduced to address confrontational behavior and prevent protests against referees, following incidents at the Africa Cup of Nations.
