UEFA Rejects World Cup Mouth-Guard Red Card Rule for European Cups
UEFA will not adopt FIFA's automatic red card rule for mouth-covering in European competitions, despite the rule being approved for the 2026 World Cup, citing the need to evaluate incidents individually rather than apply blanket penalties.
UEFA has confirmed that the red card rule for players covering their mouths when facing opponents—which takes effect at the 2026 FIFA World Cup—will not be implemented in any European cup competitions next season.
The rule originated from a UEFA Champions League match in February after an incident involving Benfica forward Júan Luca Prestianni, who covered his mouth while speaking to Real Madrid striker Vinícius Júnior.
Prestianni was initially suspended for one match on racism charges. Following a further investigation, UEFA determined the Argentine player was guilty of using sexist language and imposed a six-match ban with three matches suspended.
Following this incident, FIFA proposed the automatic red card rule for mouth-covering as a measure to combat discrimination in football. The rule was subsequently approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) for use in World Cup competitions.
However, UEFA believes such situations should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether there was intent to conceal inappropriate communication contrary to sporting principles. UEFA's decision not to enforce this rule will not affect any subsequent investigations or disciplinary proceedings.
Additionally, UEFA will not automatically issue red cards to players who leave the field in protest, instead leaving that to the referee's discretion. UEFA will, however, utilize VAR to review incorrectly awarded corner kicks.
