UEFA Declines Automatic Red Card for Mouth-Covering Rule
UEFA has announced it will not apply the new IFAB law that awards an automatic red card to players who cover their mouths during confrontations in Champions League, Europa League and Conference League matches. The governing body said referees should assess each incident individually. They may still issue a yellow card for unsporting behaviour if covering the mouth is seen as concealing communication. Disciplinary investigations will continue where necessary. The optional IFAB rule was used at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after approval in April. It led to red cards for Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón and Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié, and sparked debate about presumption of guilt and inconsistency in its application.
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