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Disciplinary Actions in New Rules
New rules regarding on-field conduct and potential disciplinary sanctions.
Primary Sources
Red card for players covering their mouths in World Cup matches ...
New red card rule allows referees to send off players who cover their mouths or walk off the pitch in protest against a decision.Footballers covering their mouths during a confrontation with an opponent or any other player on the pitch will be given a red card under a new rule approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).The board held a special meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday to pass FIFA-approved amendments to address inappropriate behaviour ahead of the World Cup in North America.“At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card,” IFAB said.This change follows a UEFA Champions League match where Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni made racially abusive comments directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior while pulling his jersey up over his mouth to hide what he was saying.Another new amendment permits officials to issue red cards to players who leave the field in protest of a referee’s decision. It also applies to any team official who convinces their team’s players to walk off in protest.(Al Jazeera)FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushed for the changes after a heated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final when Senegal’s team walked off the field.They left during stoppage time of the AFCON final in January when host nation Morocco was awarded a penalty with the score at 0-0. Play was delayed for nearly 15 minutes before Morocco’s spot-kick was saved. Senegal scored in extra time to win the title, but were later stripped of it by an appeals panel of African football’s governing body. The case will now be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.These new red card rules are not mandatory, but they give competition organisers like FIFA the option to use them.IFAB said in its statement that all 48 teams competing in the World Cup will be informed of these amendments in the coming weeks.Last week, UEFA handed Prestianni a six-game ban – three of the games deferred for a probationary period – for the verbal abuse, which it said was homophobic. UEFA could not prove the racial insult, which Prestianni denied, though he admitted using a homophobic slur.If Prestianni is selected for Argentina’s World Cup squad, he must sit out the defending champions’ first two matches in June, although the ban can be appealed.The World Cup kicks off June 11 with Mexico facing...
Players who cover mouths face red card at World Cup - BBC Sport
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 International Football Association Board (Ifab) 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 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 members would reconvene ahead of this week's Fifa Council in Vancouver.The decision remains at the absolute discretion of the referee, who will consider all circumstances before issuing a red card.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.
FIFA approves red cards for pitch walkouts and mouth-covering at 2026 ...
FIFA will introduce two major disciplinary rule changes at the 2026 World Cup. Players are now at risk of being sent off for covering their mouths during heated on-pitch confrontations.The ...
The IFAB unanimously approves red card for players covering their ...
13 hours ago ... Players covering their mouths in situations of confrontation with opponents At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a ...
