UEFA rejects FIFA's red card rule for mouth-covering as World Cup claims two victims

UEFA will not enforce FIFA’s automatic red card rule for players caught covering their mouths while speaking to opponents, the governing body has confirmed, distancing itself from a controversial law that has already produced two dismissals at the 2026 World Cup.

Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player to be sent off under the new FIFA regulation, which was introduced by president Gianni Infantino as a “deterrent” ahead of the tournament. Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie followed, receiving a red card during Ecuador’s Round of 32 defeat to Mexico for the same offence.

Rather than mirroring FIFA’s blanket approach, UEFA says it will leave the decision to match officials on a case-by-case basis. Referees in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League will be empowered to issue a yellow card where there is “an attempt to conceal communication as an act of unsporting behaviour” — but an automatic red card will not apply.

The debate around mouth-covering was thrust into the spotlight in February when Vinicius Jr alleged that Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him during a match, with Prestianni using his shirt to conceal his mouth during the exchange. A subsequent UEFA investigation found Prestianni guilty of homophobic conduct, resulting in a six-match ban, three of which were suspended.

While UEFA diverges from FIFA on the red card question, it will align with the World Cup on one officiating change: VAR will be used to verify corner kick decisions in European competitions from next season. The technology has already overturned 22 incorrect corner calls at the current World Cup, and UEFA intends to apply the same standard to eliminate similar errors in its club competitions.