UEFA confirms that players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents will not be automatically shown red cards in its competitions. The decision applies to UEFA tournaments including the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, and is presented as an alternative to a recently introduced rule used in those competitions. Under the approach UEFA is adopting, covering the mouth during an altercation is not treated as a standard offence that triggers a red card. The guidance is intended to clarify disciplinary outcomes in on-pitch confrontations where a player’s gesture may otherwise be interpreted as misconduct. While the reporting aligns on the same core outcome—that such players will not be sent off on that basis alone—the sources do not detail any additional conditions or alternative sanctions that may apply for other types of misconduct. UEFA’s announcement therefore focuses on the specific scenario of mouth-covering gestures and makes clear that this behaviour will not lead to an automatic red card in UEFA matches.