Starting at the 2026 World Cup, football players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents will risk an immediate red card. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved the rule on April 28, 2026, during a meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, in what amounts to one of the most unusual disciplinary measures the sport has ever seen.
The regulation, informally dubbed the “Vinícius Law,” allows referees to send off any player who obscures their mouth with their hands, arms, or jerseys while engaged in verbal exchanges with opponents.
The incident that started it all
The rule traces directly back to a February 2026 UEFA Champions League match involving Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior. During that game, Vinícius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of directing racial abuse at him. The critical detail: Prestianni was covering his mouth while speaking to Vinícius, making it nearly impossible for officials or broadcast cameras to determine exactly what was said in real time.
Prestianni ultimately received a six-match ban, with three of those matches suspended, for his conduct.
