The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has approved new regulations for the 2026 World Cup, allowing referees to issue straight red cards to players who cover their mouths when confronting opponents or leave the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision. The changes, confirmed ahead of Thursday’s Fifa Congress in Vancouver, will apply to the tournament beginning in June.
New Rules for Player Conduct
Ifab’s statement clarified that competition organisers may authorise referees to sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field of play in protest. Team officials who incite players to leave the pitch could also face sanctions. A team causing a match to be abandoned would forfeit the game in principle.
However, Ifab has not mandated these rules for other competitions, leaving it to individual organisers to decide whether to adopt them.
Background: Afcon Final Controversy
The rule change regarding leaving the pitch follows the disputed Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final, where several Senegal players walked off after a late penalty decision. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed that penalty after a lengthy delay, and Senegal eventually won the final in extra time.
Concerns Over Racist Abuse
European domestic leagues have raised concerns that an automatic red card for leaving the pitch could penalise players who have suffered racist abuse. The issue of covering mouths has also been linked to racism, notably after a February incident where Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him while covering his mouth with his shirt.
Prestianni received a six-match ban from Uefa after admitting to making homophobic comments. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has called for a clampdown on such behaviour.
Afcon Final Appeal
Infantino also urged harsher punishments for players leaving the pitch following the Afcon final. The Confederation of African Football appeal board later overturned the result of January’s final, awarding the game to Morocco, though Senegal has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
