Richarlison, right, vies with Son Heung-min during a round of 16 match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 5, 2022. [XINHUA/YONHAP]
FIFA's on-field officials for the World Cup will insist on keeping matches moving by taking rule changes designed to limit time-wasting seriously, the sport's governing body said Sunday with the start of the 48-team tournament now less than two weeks away.
Also among the points of emphasis for referees and officials: a commitment to issuing red cards to any player who covers his mouth while talking to an opponent in a “confrontational situation," FIFA said.
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“We are continuing [with] trying to achieve an objective, which is to eliminate from matches — as much as possible — the disruption of the tempo of the match," said Pierluigi Collina, FIFA chief refereeing officer and chair of the referees committee.
