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UEFA rejects FIFA's 'mouth-covering' red card rule
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท Greece /Sports

UEFA rejects FIFA's 'mouth-covering' red card rule

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • UEFA will not adopt FIFA's 'mouth-covering' rule, which mandates a red card for players covering their mouths when speaking to opponents.
  • Instead of a direct red card, referees will issue yellow cards for unsporting behavior in such instances.
  • UEFA will also expand VAR capabilities to include interventions in incorrect corner kick decisions.

UEFA has announced it will not implement FIFA's controversial 'mouth-covering' rule in its upcoming Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League seasons. This rule, which mandates a direct red card for players who cover their mouths while speaking to opponents, has drawn significant debate. FIFA first applied this regulation during the 2026 World Cup, notably in a match involving Almiron. The controversy intensified after Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni was penalized with a six-match ban for covering his mouth while addressing Vinรญcius Jรบnior of Real Madrid. UEFA's decision diverges from FIFA's approach, opting instead for a less severe punishment. Referees will now issue yellow cards for unsporting behavior in cases where players cover their mouths during interactions on the field. In addition to this change, UEFA is enhancing the capabilities of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. VAR will now be able to review and intervene in instances of incorrect corner kick decisions, aligning with practices in other major football competitions.

UEFA will ๐๐Ž๐“ ๐€๐ƒ๐Ž๐๐“ FIFAโ€™s mouth-covering red card rule in the Champions League and European competitions.

โ€” Goals SideA breaking news alert regarding UEFA's decision.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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