2 min readJul 1, 2026 09:41 AM IST
Ecuador centre-back Piero Hincapie became the first player to be red-carded for covering his mouth in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, moments before his side crashed out of the tournament in a 0-2 defeat to Mexico in the Round of 32 match in Mexico City.
When Ecuador’s substitute Kency Paez was booked with a yellow card for a rash swipe in stoppage time, Hincapie was seen having a go at Mexico’s Santiago Gimenez with his mouth covered. After Gimenez appealed to the referee, a VAR decision deemed Hincapie to have violated the newly introduced rule at the World Cup.
The new rule empowers referees to eject players who hide their mouths during run-ins with opponents. The International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) Law 12 stipulates a straight red card for players “using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or action(s)”. Referees rely on what they hear, their assistants and the video assistant referee’s (VAR) inputs, as well as players’ reactions and the context of the incident.
With the new rule, the referee will have more discretion in trying to ascertain the nature of conversation between opposing players. Banter is not a problem, but if the official sees a player covering their mouth with a hand, arm or shirt in a confrontation, a send-off is prescribed.