The decision was made during a special meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) held in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, where two major rule changes were approved.
It was also agreed that players who walk off the pitch in protest against a referee’s decision will receive a red card. This follows incidents that occurred during the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal in January.
Both rule changes approved by IFAB and endorsed by FIFA will come into effect during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The issue of players covering their mouths gained widespread attention in February when Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth while speaking to Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during a UEFA Champions League match.
The Argentine player was accused of racially abusing Vinicius and was initially suspended for one match. Following an investigation by UEFA, Prestianni was found guilty of discriminatory behavior and handed a six-month suspension, with three months suspended.
Referees will now be responsible for reviewing the entire situation before issuing a red card.
In February, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “If you have nothing to hide, there is no reason to cover your mouth.”
Regarding protests against referees’ decisions, the new rule will also apply to team officials and staff members who encourage players to leave the pitch, not just the players themselves.
It was also agreed that any team responsible for causing a match to be abandoned will automatically forfeit the game.
FIFA further confirmed that second yellow cards received during the World Cup will be cleared after the group stage and after the quarter-finals to prevent too many players from missing matches.
