FIFA updates red card rules after recent controversies
The changes were pushed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino after separate incidents involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Senegal’s national team drew widespread attention.
Football's global rulemakers have revised red card guidelines following two controversial incidents in international matches earlier this year.
The changes were pushed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino after separate incidents involving Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni and Senegal's national team drew widespread attention.
Under the updated guidance approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), players can now be shown a red card if they cover their mouths while verbally confronting an opponent.
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The rule is optional and can be enforced at the discretion of tournament organisers, including FIFA.
The decision follows an incident in a Champions League match where Prestianni allegedly hid his words while insulting Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior. Vinícius, supported by teammate Kylian Mbappé, accused him of making a racially offensive remark.
Last week, UEFA handed Prestianni a six-match suspension, with three games suspended during a probation period, citing verbal abuse.
While the body said it could not prove racial abuse, it confirmed the use of a homophobic slur, which the player admitted. If selected for Argentina's World Cup squad, he will miss the team's first two matches, although the decision can still be appealed.
IFAB also approved another rule allowing referees to issue red cards to players who leave the field in protest of a decision. The same punishment can apply to team officials who encourage such actions.
This follows a dramatic incident during the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, when Senegal's players walked off the pitch in stoppage time to protest a penalty awarded to host Morocco with the score at 0-0.
The match was halted for nearly 15 minutes before play resumed. Senegal eventually won in extra time, but the title was later stripped by African football authorities. The case is now set to be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
IFAB said the new rules will be shared with all 48 teams participating in the upcoming World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
