Miguel Almiron was the first victim. The Paraguay star got a straight red card for the simple act of covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent. It sounds madness, but that is the new law.
FIFA has introduced strict rules ahead of the 2026 World Cup to stop players from concealing their speech during confrontations. Piero Hincapie followed Almiron into the dressing room after being sent off during Ecuador's Round of 32 defeat to Mexico for the same offence.
Gianni Infantino is the man behind this. The FIFA president claims the rule is a "deterrent." He wants to stop the secret insults and abuse that happen when a player hides behind a shirt or a hand. Wamma! Imagine getting a red card just for a bit of privacy during a heated argument.
Why is UEFA rejecting the FIFA World Cup rules?
UEFA has officially confirmed they will not follow FIFA's lead. Players in the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League are safe for now. They won't be automatically sent off for covering their mouths during a scrap.
Instead of an automatic red, UEFA is leaving it to the referees. Match officials will decide on a case-by-case basis whether the action warrants a punishment. It is a far more sensible approach than the rigid FIFA stance.
This whole drama stems from a nasty clash in February. Vinicius Jr alleged that Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him. Prestianni was caught using his shirt to cover his mouth during the exchange.
UEFA didn't need a new rule to punish him. An investigation found Prestianni guilty of homophobic conduct, and he was slapped with a six-match ban, though three of those were suspended.
Will the red card rule change in Europe?
No. UEFA has made it clear they are ignoring the automatic red card mandate used at the World Cup. While FIFA wants a blanket ban on concealing speech, UEFA prefers referee discretion.
It is a clash of philosophies. FIFA wants a hammer to crush the problem, but UEFA believes the referees can handle it without ruining games by sending off key players for a hand gesture.
Who was sent off for covering their mouth?
Miguel Almiron of Paraguay and Piero Hincapie of Ecuador were the two players sent off for covering their mouths under the new FIFA rules.
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Source: Mirror
