FIFA to Penalize Players for Covering Mouth in Confrontational Situations

With the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup approaching, FIFA has proposed a new regulation penalizing players with a red card if they cover their mouths during confrontational situations on the field. This decision was unanimously approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in late April, 2026.

In a landmark event, Miguel Almiron of Atlanta United and Paraguay became the first player penalized under this newly adopted rule. Just before halftime in Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkiye on June 19, Almiron was shown a red card for covering his mouth.

Following this incident, Jackson Irvine from Australia publicly commented on the rule. As reported by ESPN Australia & NZ, Irvine expressed his support, stating, “We were all told beforehand. It’s bound to be controversial because the exact nature of the violation can be unclear. But when considering past incidents, notably with Vinicius Junior, the rule eliminates ambiguity. If a player’s words aren’t visible, they perhaps shouldn’t be spoken.”

Irvine’s view resonated positively, with many agreeing his stance encourages an inclusive and fair environment in sports. Tipping Pitches observed, “Oh, so it IS possible for an athlete to give a simple, clear-eyed response about a sport’s good faith effort to promote equity.”

For context, in a past UEFA Champions League match in February, Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni concealed his mouth when conversing with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. Vinicius claimed Prestianni directed slurs at him, resulting in a six-match ban for Prestianni by UEFA.

After this event, FIFA pledged to adopt measures against players who cover their mouths during this World Cup.