World Cup players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents will face a red card as part of a new initiative aimed at combating racism, world governing body FIFA has said.
In a statement on Tuesday following a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver, FIFA confirmed that the rule was one of two law changes that would be introduced at this year's World Cup.
"At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card," FIFA said in a statement.
This change stems from a Champions League match when Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni said racially abusive comments directed at Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior while pulling his jersey up over his mouth to hide what he was saying.
Vinicius was visibly emotional after the confrontation, and Prestianni received a six-match ban from UEFA for the incident.
'Don't hide your mouth if you have nothing to hide'
In football, it's a common practice for players to cover their mouths while talking, especially with teammates.
Usually, players cover their mouths when discussing tactical plans mid-game to avoid opposing teams and lip-readers from interpreting their discussion.
Other pundits and experts suggest that players covering their mouths helps their voice travel better so they can be heard clearly in a stadium full of roaring fans.
FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino previously voiced support for the new rule in an interview with Sky News last month.
"If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously," Infantino said.
"There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn't have said, otherwise he wouldn't have had to cover his mouth. If you do not have something to hide, you don't hide your mouth when you say something. That's it, as simple as that."
Walking off the pitch
In a separate law change announced on Tuesday to be enforced at the World Cup, FIFA said that red cards would also be introduced for players leaving the field of play in protest at a referee's decision.
"At the discretion of the competition organiser, the referee may sanction with a red card any player who leaves the field of play in protest at a referee's decision," FIFA said.
"This new rule will also apply to any team official who incites players to leave the field of play."
FIFA said a team causing a game to be abandoned will forfeit the match.
This new rule stems from an incident at the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, when Senegal players left the field in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco in the extra time.
In its statement, IFAB said that all 48 teams competing in the World Cup will be informed of these amendments in the coming weeks.
The World Cup kicks off June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.
