Analysis of FIFA's New Rule on Players Covering Their Mouths: Bellingham vs. Almiron
Jude Bellingham avoided a red card during England's match against Ghana, raising questions about FIFA's new rule on players covering their mouths, especially following Miguel Almiron's recent suspension.
Jude Bellingham did not receive a red card during England's 0-0 draw against Ghana, a decision that has sparked discussions regarding FIFA's new regulations concerning players covering their mouths during conversations.
Carlos Queiroz, the former coach of Iran, expressed his belief that Bellingham was lucky to escape a yellow card, and possibly even a red card, for his actions during the match.
During the game, Bellingham was seen speaking with Ghana's captain, Jordan Ayew, before both players were substituted in the second half. Bellingham covered his mouth with his hand while conversing with Ayew, which, under specific circumstances, is prohibited by FIFA as of the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
In contrast, Miguel Almiron, the former Newcastle winger, received a straight red card during Paraguay's 1-0 victory over Turkey after he covered his mouth while engaged in a verbal dispute with defender Mert Muldur. Almiron became the first player penalized under FIFA's new rule and will face a one-match suspension, causing him to miss Paraguay's final group match against Australia.
The key distinction in Bellingham's case lies in FIFA's specific interpretation of what actions warrant a red card for covering one's mouth. The current rule does not prohibit players from covering their mouths to communicate; instead, it applies to confrontational situations.
This regulation was introduced following an incident involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, who received a six-match ban from UEFA for using a homophobic slur during a Champions League playoff match against Real Madrid in March. Prestianni had initially been accused of making a racist comment towards Vinicius Junior, but UEFA could not meet the required burden of proof, partly due to Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt during the exchange.
FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, clarified the rule during a pre-World Cup briefing, stating, 'Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm and the shirt, because they may chat with friends. It's normal to chat before, during or after the match. So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem.'
Collina further explained that if the discussion is confrontational, then covering the mouth may indicate wrongdoing, which could result in a red card.
The wording of this rule also applies to Lionel Messi, who covered his mouth while communicating with teammates during Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening World Cup group stage match. Since Messi was simply engaged in a team conversation, no disciplinary action was deemed necessary.
