The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced it will not enforce a recent FIFA mandate that allowed players to receive red cards for covering their mouths while speaking on the field. This decision applies to upcoming matches in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
FIFA had introduced this specific regulation for the recent World Cup, aiming to deter players from concealing potentially abusive, discriminatory, or offensive language during verbal exchanges.
While UEFA will not issue automatic red cards for this action, the organization indicated on Thursday that players could still face a yellow card if their attempt to hide communication is deemed an "act of unsporting behaviour."
A statement from UEFA clarified, "This is obviously without prejudice to any disciplinary investigation or proceedings that may follow as a consequence of or in connection with such behaviour."
Origins of the Rule Change
The push for this change originated from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, following an incident where Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni reportedly attempted to hide verbal insults directed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League fixture.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the sport’s ultimate rulemaking authority, subsequently agreed that officials could penalize players with a red card if they cover their mouths when confronting another player verbally.
This particular rule is not a compulsory element within the official Laws of the Game, but rather provides tournament organizers, such as FIFA, the flexibility to implement it at their discretion.
IFAB, which comprises representatives from FIFA and the four British football federations, unanimously sanctioned this rule modification at a special meeting held prior to the FIFA Congress. FIFA's proposal gained traction after Vinícius, with the support of his Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé, alleged that Prestianni used a racially charged insult in February, covering his mouth with his jersey during the match.
Prior Incidents and Penalties
To date, only two players have been shown a red card specifically for covering their mouths: Miguel Almiron of Paraguay and Piero Hincapie of Ecuador.
When a player receives a red card from a match official, they are immediately expelled from the game and must serve a one-match suspension in the subsequent fixture. Additionally, their team is compelled to complete the remainder of the match with only ten players on the field.