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IFAB Adds Mouth-Cover Penalty, Walk-Off Red Card for World Cup

4/29/2026

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Summary

Story summary

IFAB unanimously approved a World Cup rule starting June 11 that penalizes players who cover their mouths.
The amendment, adopted in Vancouver, follows FIFA’s proposal after Gianluca Prestianni’s mouth-covering racist insult and UEFA’s six-game ban that could make him miss Argentina’s two World Cup matches.
IFAB also added a red-card sanction for players or officials who leave the pitch or urge walk-offs and will notify all 48 Cup teams.

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Story summary

IFAB unanimously approved a World Cup rule starting June 11 that penalizes players who cover their mouths.
The amendment, adopted in Vancouver, follows FIFA’s proposal after Gianluca Prestianni’s mouth-covering racist insult and UEFA’s six-game ban that could make him miss Argentina’s two World Cup matches.
IFAB also added a red-card sanction for players or officials who leave the pitch or urge walk-offs and will notify all 48 Cup teams.