FIFA World Cup: Red cards for covering mouth, yellow card suspension rules eased

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, the governing body has announced a couple of major changes in rules. The revisions target concealed abuse, protests and time-wasting while reducing yellow-card suspensions in knockout matches.

In Short

• Players covering their mouths during confrontations can now be shown red
• Teams protesting decisions by leaving the pitch will face immediate dismissal
• Single yellow cards will be cleared after the group stage

In a landmark move to clean up on-field conduct and ensure the presence of star players in the latter stages of the tournament, FIFA and the International Football Association Board have announced significant amendments to the Laws of the Game ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The new regulations introduce a strict crackdown on "concealed communication" while also offering a double amnesty for yellow-card accumulations.

The most striking addition to the disciplinary code is the introduction of a straight red card for players who cover their mouths during on-field confrontations. This measure comes in response to a series of high-profile incidents in which players were accused of using discriminatory or abusive language while hiding their lips to avoid lip-reading or VAR detection.

Lawmakers pointed to the controversial UEFA Champions League clash earlier this year between Real Madrid and Benfica. Vincius Junior alleged he was racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni, but because the latter covered his mouth during the exchange, evidence was deemed insufficient for a full sanction. Prestianni was eventually handed a six-match ban on April 24, but the incident highlighted a loophole in officiating.

Similarly, the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final saw chaotic scenes, with hidden insults allegedly prompting a temporary pitch walk-off by the Senegal national football team.

Under the new mandate, any player who covers their mouth while confronting an opponent may be sent off at the referee's discretion. The IFAB said the aim is to "eliminate the cloak of invisibility" that has allowed such behaviour to persist on the pitch. Additionally, players who leave the field in protest of a referee's decision – as seen in the AFCON final – will now face an immediate red card.

YELLOW CARD RULE RELAXED

While red-card rules have been tightened, FIFA has moved to ease the impact of yellow cards to reflect the expanded 48-team format. With the addition of a new knockout round (the Round of 32), the risk of key players missing semi-finals or the final due to minor cautions had increased significantly.

To address this, FIFA has confirmed a double-amnesty policy:

• Post-group stage: All single yellow cards will be wiped clean after the group stage, allowing players to enter the Round of 32 with a fresh slate.
• Post-quarter-finals: A second amnesty will apply after the quarter-finals, ensuring that a player booked in the semi-final will not be suspended for the final unless they receive a red card.

"Reflective of the expanded format, these changes are designed to keep the best players on the pitch for the biggest matches," a FIFA spokesperson said. Previously, bookings were only wiped after the quarter-finals, but the additional Round of 32 has necessitated an earlier reset to avoid suspension-heavy knockout rounds.

The amendments also introduce a visual countdown for throw-ins and goal-kicks to curb time-wasting, alongside a mandatory 10-second exit rule for substituted players. Failure to leave the pitch within that timeframe will result in the team playing with 10 men for a full minute of active game time.

As the World Cup prepares to kick off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, these changes signal a new era focused on transparency, discipline and ensuring that the world's biggest stage remains both disciplined and star-studded.

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