World Cup players who cover their mouths during confrontations could get red cards

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just weeks away, and as I do every four years or so, I'm jonesing for some World Cup soccer.

However, this year's tournament is bringing with it some new rules, one of which might be one of the goofiest I've ever heard.

Want to cover your mouth while jawing with an opponent? Not unless you want a red card, you don't, pal.

New rules allow FIFA referees to assess a red card if a player covers their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

According to The Athletic, FIFA has rolled out some new rules that give officials the latitude to issue players red cards if they cover their mouths during a confrontation with an opponent.

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It's being left up to the on-field official to decide, based on the circumstances, whether or not to whip out the ol' red card.

Now, the reason for this dates back to an incident in which Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr. accused Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni of making racist comments. Prestianni denied this, but had his jersey over his mouth the entire time.

He was ultimately banned by UEFA for six matches after admitting to making homophobic comments during the incident, though three of those matches were suspended and also include one match in which he served under a preliminary suspension.

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The rule stems largely from this incident involving