Multiple outlets report that officials at the World Cup are enforcing a rule that can result in a red card if a player covers their mouth during a verbal confrontation with another player. The warning is framed as a clarification of expected conduct on the pitch. According to the reports, the sanction applies when players use their hands to cover their mouths while confronting opponents verbally, and it is treated as a serious breach of match regulations rather than unsporting behavior alone. The guidance is intended to prevent actions that referees interpret as escalating or communicating in an improper way during disputes.
The reports do not indicate a specific incident that triggered the warning, but they emphasize that players have been told to avoid this behavior. As the tournaments matches progress, referees may use the rule to assess similar conduct in real time, with the potential for immediate disciplinary action, including a sending-off.
