Players who cover their mouths in arguments with opponents will be punished with a red card. The measure was approved this Tuesday (28) at a meeting of Ifab (International Football Association Board, a body linked to FIFA (International Football Federation) responsible for drafting football rules.
Ifab also determined that field abandonment will have new sanctions. Athletes who leave the field in protest against referee decisions will be expelled. Coaches or committee members who encourage leaving the playing area will also receive a red card. Finally, abandonment by the entire team will be punished by forfeiting the match.
The new rules are motivated by two recent episodes. In January, the Senegal team left the field for a few minutes during the African Cup of Nations final, in protest against the awarding of a penalty to Morocco. The Senegalese came back and won. In March, however, the African Confederation stripped Senegal of its title and granted it to Morocco.
In February, during a Champions League playoff game, Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni, from Benfica, hid his face during an altercation with Vinicius Junior, from Real Madrid. With the new guidance, similar acts will result in expulsion.
The Brazilian accused his opponent of having uttered racist insults with his mouth covered by his shirt. Prestianni denied it. Last week, UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) suspended the Argentine for six matches, citing “discriminatory conduct”, but not racism. In a statement, the organization cited “homophobic language.”
The Ifab meeting, held in Vancouver, defined that the new rules will be in force from the World Cup onwards, which will start on June 11th. The 48 participating teams will be formally notified.
