World Cup rules explained: could players be sent off for covering their mouths? | OneFootball

Players could be sent off for covering their mouths or leaving the pitch at the World Cup after IFAB approved two FIFA proposals. The new laws apply from 11 June in Canada, Mexico and the United States. A separate tweak to yellow card suspensions is planned, according to The Athletic.

A special IFAB meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday cleared both laws. Referees may now dismiss a player who hides their mouth while confronting an opponent, at referee’s discretion. Players or team officials who leave the field in protest may also be shown red.

The mouth-covering measure follows a February incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who used his shirt to hide his mouth while insulting Vinícius Júnior. Vinícius alleged racist abuse, while Prestianni said the insults were homophobic. UEFA banned him for six matches, with three suspended, for homophobic abuse.

The second law appears aimed at avoiding a repeat of January’s contentious AFCON final, when Senegal’s players headed down the tunnel after a Morocco penalty. They later returned, Senegal won in extra time, but CAF awarded the title to Morocco. At the World Cup, referees would be expected to dismiss those who left, forcing abandonment.

The Athletic reports FIFA are set to add two yellow card amnesties, after the group stage and after the quarter-finals. Under the tweak, players would miss a game only if booked twice within any three-match spell. It has not yet been formally announced and was set to go before the FIFA Council in Vancouver this week.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk