Overview
- IFAB approved a World Cup law that allows competitions to send off any player who covers their mouth during a confrontational exchange to stop concealed abusive or discriminatory language.
- Paraguay winger Miguel Almirón was dismissed under the new rule earlier in the tournament and received a one‑match suspension after match officials and VAR judged his exchange to be confrontational.
- England midfielder Jude Bellingham was filmed covering his mouth while speaking with Ghana’s Jordan Ayew but was not sent off after referees and FIFA’s head of referees judged the exchange to be non‑hostile.
- The Paraguayan Football Association has lodged a formal protest arguing the rule is being applied inconsistently, a complaint that has put referees’ split‑second judgements and VAR guidance under review.
- FIFA officials including president Gianni Infantino and referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina have defended the rule as a tool to protect respect and deter abuse, and the World Cup will test whether the law can be enforced fairly and whether other competitions adopt it.