Players who cover their mouths during on-field ‘confrontations’ with an opponent risk being sent off at the World Cup under a new rule change.
Stars involved in on-pitch rows with players often conceal their mouths to hide what is being said but the game’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board, said those guilty of doing so could now be given a red card.
It comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino called for action to be taken following the row involving Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.
Vinicius accused Prestianni of racially abusing him during an ill-tempered Champions League clash between the two sides in February.
Prestianni had his shirt over his mouth in the dispute with the Real Madrid star and later admitted to a homophobic slur. He was banned for six matches by UEFA after accepting the charge but denied claims of racial abuse.
In a statement, the IFAB said: ‘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.’
The rule change comes after Vinicius Jr accused Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him
The IFAB also confirmed players who walk off the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision could be dismissed after the controversy in the Africa Cup of Nations final in January.
Senegal’s players left the field for several minutes, at the instruction of head coach Pape Thiaw, after a contentious penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time.
They eventually returned and went on to win the match in dramatic fashion, but in an unprecedented decision the Confederation of African Football overturned the result and awarded the final to Morocco.
Senegal have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and are awaiting a verdict.
‘At the discretion of the competition organiser, the referee may sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision,’ the IFAB said.
‘This new rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play.
‘A team that causes a match to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the match.’
The IFAB said the two rule amendments would apply at this year’s World Cup, being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
