IFAB Approves Red Card Rules for Mouth-Covering and Pitch-Exiting at 2026 World Cup

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) met in Vancouver, Canada, and approved two law amendments as competition opt-ins for the 2026 World Cup. One permits a straight red card for any player who covers his mouth while confronting an opponent. The other allows a straight red card for any player who leaves the field in protest of a referee’s decision, extending also to officials who incite such exits. Referees retain absolute discretion to consider all circumstances before issuing the card.

BBC News

The mouth-covering amendment reacts to a February Champions League incident where Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni lifted his shirt to speak to Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr, then covered his mouth. UEFA found him guilty of homophobic conduct and imposed a six-match ban, three suspended. The protest-exit amendment follows 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final, where Senegal players left the field after Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed a delayed penalty; Senegal won, CAF awarded match to Morocco, and Senegal has appealed to Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Guardian

IFAB’s official release stated that referees may sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field in protest and that the rule also covers officials who incite such actions. FIFA confirmed the amendments will be active at the World Cup, and President Gianni Infantino said the governing bodies will pursue harsher punishments for walk-offs after the Africa Cup of Nations controversy.

The Guardian

European domestic leagues warned that an automatic red card for leaving the pitch could conceal underlying racist abuse, arguing that disciplinary reviews should first verify the motive behind a protest.

The Guardian

CAF’s appeal board reversed the Africa Cup of Nations final in favour of Morocco, while Senegal has taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport; IFAB also noted the new sanctions are optional for competitions beyond the World Cup.

The Guardian

• “At the discretion of the competition organiser, the referee may sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision,” — IFAB, statement

The Guardian

• “This new rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play. A team that causes a match to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the match.” — IFAB, statement

The Guardian

• “The decision remains at the absolute discretion of the referee, who will consider all circumstances before issuing a red card.” — IFAB

BBC News

• “ One objection that has been raised by European domestic leagues to the automatic red card for a player leaving the pitch is the possibility that it later emerges they have suffered racist abuse.” — European domestic leagues

The Guardian

FIFA’s Congress in Vancouver will formalise the rule rollout before the June kickoff, and referees will receive guidance to enforce the sanctions throughout the tournament.

The Guardian