IFAB Introduces 'Vinícius Rule' Making Mouth-Covering a Red Card Offence

In an unusually swift move, football's rule-making authority has taken decisive action. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has given unanimous approval to what's being called the 'Vinícius rule' during a special session held in Vancouver. Under this new regulation, any player caught covering their mouth while speaking to an opponent on the field will face disciplinary action — including the possibility of a red card.

The regulation comes as a direct answer to an incident involving Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni. He received a six-match suspension for directing homophobic slurs at Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior. However, the racial abuse allegations made by the Brazilian couldn't be definitively verified. The reason? Prestianni had shielded his mouth during the exchange, preventing lip-reading analysis and rendering video footage inconclusive. This new rule aims to eliminate that gap in enforcement — at least in theory.

FIFA's president championed the change

FIFA head Gianni Infantino has been the driving force behind this initiative from day one, securing preliminary approval during IFAB's General Assembly held in Wales this past March. Tuesday's extraordinary meeting in Canada formalized the decision. The regulation is scheduled to make its debut at the upcoming World Cup.

However, not everyone believes this is the optimal solution. Detractors — many raising valid concerns — note that players frequently shield their mouths for legitimate reasons: concealing tactical communications from opposing teams or avoiding detection by broadcast microphones during conversations with teammates. Neither scenario involves abuse. The rule doesn't differentiate between these situations, placing referees in the difficult position of making split-second judgments with minimal context.

This lack of clarity carries serious implications. An incorrect red card during a World Cup elimination match because a player was simply hiding formation strategy from the opposing technical area would be disastrous. While the rule's underlying purpose is commendable, its practical application raises questions.

Additional measures address player protests and match abandonments

The Vancouver gathering addressed more than just the Vinícius rule. IFAB also greenlit penalties for players who exit the playing surface in protest of an official's ruling — they now face potential ejection. Technical staff members who promote such walk-offs will receive identical sanctions.

There's also a clear nod to the recent Africa Cup of Nations Final incident between Senegal and Morocco: any side responsible for causing a match to be called off will, as a general rule, forfeit the contest. The message to potential troublemakers is unmistakable.

• Players who shield their mouths while engaging with opponents face possible dismissal
• Players who walk off the pitch protesting a referee's decision can be shown a red card
• Technical staff encouraging such protests face identical punishment
• Clubs causing matches to be abandoned will automatically forfeit

Three major rule modifications, all approved in a single meeting. The World Cup's rulebook just became considerably more complex — and match officials now have an expanded list of calls where errors could prove catastrophic.