UEFA has officially declined to adopt the so-called Prestianni Rule, FIFA’s new regulation that mandates a straight red card for any player who deliberately covers their mouth while confronting an opponent. The decision puts UEFA at odds with FIFA on one of the more unusual disciplinary innovations to emerge from the 2026 World Cup cycle.
How a Champions League match created a global football rule
The rule traces back to February 2026, during a UEFA Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid. Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was caught covering his mouth while apparently directing comments at an opponent, a gesture widely understood as an attempt to avoid lip-reading cameras. Prestianni was accused by Vinícius Júnior of making discriminatory remarks while covering his mouth.
UEFA took the incident seriously. In April 2026, the governing body handed Prestianni a six-match ban after finding evidence of homophobic conduct. FIFA then extended that ban globally in May 2026, meaning the punishment followed Prestianni across all competitions under FIFA’s jurisdiction.
FIFA, with president Gianni Infantino championing the measure, introduced the Prestianni Rule ahead of the 2026 World Cup, attaching an automatic red card to the mouth-covering gesture when used in confrontational situations.
