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  "path": "/sport/football/fifa-world-cup-new-rule-red-card-cover-mouths",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-29T08:14:55.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "PSG edge Bayern Munich in thrilling nine-goal first leg as Champions League records tumble",
    "Harry Kane breaks Steven Gerrard's Champions League record in pulsating PSG vs Bayern Munich clash",
    "Emma Raducanu gives tennis fan a rare health update after missing last three tournaments",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nFifa is set to introduce a major new rule just weeks before the World Cup gets underway.\n\nFootball's governing body will give the green light to new regulations, which will see players at risk of being sent off if they cover their mouths while speaking to opponents during confrontations on the pitch.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe International Football Association Board (Ifab) convened for a special session in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday, where members approved the amendment proposed by Fifa.\n\nReferees will also be given the authority to send off players who leave the pitch in protest, following the African Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nBoth modifications have been sanctioned as optional measures that individual competitions may choose to implement, with Fifa confirming the World Cup will adopt them.\n\nThe mouth-covering issue gained prominence in February following a Champions League encounter between Benfica and Real Madrid.\n\nDuring the match, Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni lifted his shirt to obscure his face whilst addressing Vinicius Jr, which led to accusations of racist abuse and a provisional one-match suspension for the Benfica player.\n\nHowever, Uefa's subsequent investigation concluded that Prestianni had engaged in homophobic conduct, resulting in a six-match ban with three games suspended.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * PSG edge Bayern Munich in thrilling nine-goal first leg as Champions League records tumble\n  * Harry Kane breaks Steven Gerrard's Champions League record in pulsating PSG vs Bayern Munich clash\n  * Emma Raducanu gives tennis fan a rare health update after missing last three tournaments\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe incident prompted discussions at Ifab's annual general meeting in Wales later that month, where delegates agreed to reconvene before this week's Fifa Council gathering in Vancouver.\n\nReferees retain complete discretion over whether to show a red card, weighing all circumstances before making their decision.\n\nFifa president Gianni Infantino expressed his support for the stricter rules, emphasising their intended preventative function.\n\nHe said: \"If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"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.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nThe second rule change stems from chaotic scenes at the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.\n\nDuring that match, Senegalese players abandoned the pitch and retreated to the dressing rooms after disputing a penalty awarded to their opponents.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nUpon their return, Brahim Diaz's Panenka attempt was caught by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Senegal ultimately prevailed 1-0.\n\nThe Confederation of African Football subsequently revoked Senegal's title and declared Morocco 3-0 winners.\n\nUnder the new provision, team officials who encourage players to leave the field also face red cards.\n\nAny side responsible for causing a match to be abandoned will, as a general principle, forfeit the fixture.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Fifa to introduce major new rule just weeks before World Cup as players threatened with red cards"
}