29.4.2026
World Football governing body FIFA will likely introduce new red card rules at the 2026 World Cup starting in June in USA, Mexico and Canada.
The new dimension follows incidents in the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica where Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth while verbally abusing Vinicius Junior in February 2026, and the Africa Cup of Nations walk out by Senegal in the final against Morocco in January 2026.
According to FIFA rule making panel the International Football Association Board (IFAB), players will get a red card if they cover their mouth and verbal abuse their opponents. Also players can get a red card if they walk off the pitch in protest.
The rule is not mandatory within The Laws of the Game but gives competition organisers like FIFA the option to use it.
It was unanimously approved by IFAB officials from FIFA and the four British football federations at a special meeting Tuesday in Vancouver, Canada, ahead of the FIFA Congress on Thursday.
FIFA’s proposal followed Vinícius, backed by Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé, accusing Prestianni of making a racially charged insult while raising his jersey to cover his mouth during the game in February.
Last week, UEFA handed Prestianni a six-game ban — three of the games deferred for a probationary period — for the verbal abuse, which it said was homophobic.
Prestianni abuses Vinicius Junior while covering up his mouth.