Strict rules at the World Cup: expulsion for anyone who covers their mouth or leaves the field to protest.
Players who cover their mouths during altercations with opponents will face the risk of receiving a red card during the 2026 World Cup.
This is part of a new initiative aimed at combating racism, FIFA announced on Tuesday.
In a statement issued following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver, FIFA confirmed that this rule is one of two amendments to the Laws of the Game that will be implemented at this year's World Cup.
FIFA said in its statement: “At the discretion of the competition organizer, any player who covers his mouth in a collision with an opponent can be punished with a red card.”
This change comes in the wake of controversy sparked by an incident earlier this year, when Argentine Gianluca Brestiani, a Benfica player, was accused of racially abusing Brazilian Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during a Champions League match in February.
In a separate legal amendment that will also be applied during the World Cup, FIFA said that the red card will also be shown to players who leave the field in protest against a refereeing decision.
The statement added: At the discretion of the competition organizers, the referee may penalize any player who leaves the field of play in protest against a refereeing decision with a red card. This new amendment will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play.
FIFA explained that any team that causes a match to be cancelled will be considered the loser. This decision comes in the wake of the controversy that accompanied the Africa Cup of Nations final this year, when Senegal's players and their coach Pape Thiaw left the field in Rabat, after the referee awarded Morocco a penalty kick in stoppage time, which was later missed by Real Madrid striker Brahim Diaz.
Despite Senegal winning the final 1-0 after extra time, they were surprisingly stripped of the title by a shocking decision issued by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last month.