Why Covering Your Mouth Led to a Red Card at the 2026 World Cup

During the 2026 World Cup match between Paraguay and Turkey on June 20, Miguel Almirón became the first player in World Cup history to be shown a red card for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent. This marked a new chapter in soccer rules, as FIFA had introduced this regulation after a controversial incident earlier in the year.

Why Did FIFA Implement This Rule?

Before the 2026 tournament, FIFA created a new rule to stop players from hiding their words by covering their mouths during confrontations. This behavior makes it impossible to confirm what was said, leaving officials to rely on one player's claim against another's. In April, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved a rule that any player caught covering their mouth while speaking to an opponent would receive an automatic red card.

Following a VAR review in the FIFA World Cup match between Türkiye and Paraguay, Miguel Almirón was shown a red card for covering his mouth. Following a special meeting of The IFAB held in April, several amendments were introduced for the FIFA World Cup 2026. — FIFA Official Tweet

The Incident That Sparked the Change

The rule traces back to a Champions League match in February 2026 between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Atletico’s Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth while speaking to Vinicius Jr. from Real Madrid. The game paused for ten minutes after Vinicius accused Prestianni of racial abuse, though Prestianni denied it, claiming Vinicius misheard him and that the comment was homophobic instead.

Because no one could verify what was said, UEFA struggled to take a clear side. Prestianni was suspended for several games, and UEFA urged FIFA to establish a firm rule to prevent similar disputes. Fans now refer to the policy as the "Prestianni Law."

Almirón’s Red Card at the World Cup

In the Paraguay vs Turkey match, Almirón made history by being the first to receive a red card under the new regulation. Regardless of what was actually said, covering the mouth while speaking to an opponent resulted in immediate dismissal.

Here is the moment Almirón was sent off.

Another Case at the Tournament

Piero Hincapie of Colombia also received a red card for the same offense during the World Cup. On June 30, in the 95th minute of Colombia’s 2-0 loss to Mexico, Hincapie covered his mouth while talking to Mexico’s Santiago Jimenez. This was the second time the new rule was enforced at the tournament.

Watch the moment Hincapie was sent off after a VAR review.