FIFA has introduced two new situations that can lead to a red card at the World Cup, following controversies that flared up in European and African football earlier this year. The changes were approved unanimously by the International Football Association Board, football’s rulemaking panel, during a special meeting in Vancouver ahead of the FIFA Congress.
The move was pushed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino after two incidents raised questions about player conduct and respect for officials. The first involved Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who was accused of directing a racially charged insult at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior while covering his mouth with his jersey during a Champions League match in February. The second came during the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, when Senegal’s players walked off the pitch to protest a penalty decision against host nation Morocco.
Under the first amendment, competition organizers like FIFA can sanction a player with a red card if they cover their mouth while verbally confronting an opponent. The rule isn’t mandatory across all competitions but gives tournaments the option to apply it.
The change directly follows the Prestianni case. UEFA handed the Argentine forward a six-game ban, three suspended for homophobic abuse, though it said it could not prove the alleged racial insult. Prestianni denied the racial slur but admitted to using homophobic language. If selected for Argentina’s World Cup squad, he would miss the defending champions’ first two matches, though he can appeal.
IFAB stated that “at the discretion of the competition organizer, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.”
The second amendment targets players and officials who leave the field to protest a referee’s decision. Anyone who walks off, or encourages players to do so, can now be shown a red card.
That rule addresses the chaotic end to the AFCON final, when Senegal’s players left the pitch during stoppage time after Morocco was awarded a penalty at 0-0. Play was delayed for nearly 15 minutes before Morocco’s spot-kick was saved. Senegal later won in extra time but was stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football’s appeals panel. The case is now headed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
IFAB said the amendments will be communicated to all 48 teams ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off June 11 across the U.S.A, Canada, and Mexico. The changes are aimed at curbing gamesmanship and protecting the authority of match officials.
