A new law introduced for the 2026 World Cup allows referees to send off players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents. Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron has already felt the consequences, receiving a one-match ban after being dismissed under the rule.
FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, had spelled out the boundaries clearly before the tournament began. “Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm and the shirt because they may chat with friends,” Collina said. “So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem. When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card.”
Almiron’s dismissal came after a melee broke out between Paraguay and Turkey players, sparked when Paraguay’s Isidro Pitta went to ground claiming a bad challenge by Turkey’s Ismail Yuksek. During the resulting confrontation, Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to Turkey’s Mert Muldur. Although neither player was directly involved in the pushing and shoving, the situation was heated enough for the rule to be applied.
The distinction matters. Players covering their mouths during casual conversation — something visible in almost every game at this World Cup, even among referees — are not at risk. It is the combination of the gesture and a confrontational situation that triggers the sanction. When Jude Bellingham and Jordan Ayew were seen speaking with mouths covered, no action was taken, with no animosity present between the two.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino backed the rule following Almiron’s dismissal. “This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule,” Infantino told SNTV. “It’s about respect. It’s about the example that we should give.”
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
