IFAB to Red-Card Players for Covering Mouths and Protest Walk-Offs at World Cup 2026

The International Football Association Board has approved new rules for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Any player who covers their mouth when confronting an opponent could now face a straight red card, at the competition organiser’s discretion. Officials can also send off players or team staff who leave the field in protest at a referee’s decision. Teams that cause a match to be abandoned will forfeit the game by default. The updates follow extensive consultations and will be shared with the 48 qualified nations in the coming weeks.

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