Uefa has declined to follow Fifa’s lead by introducing automatic red cards for players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent or who leave the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision, leaving the new rules confined to the World Cup for now.
The International Football Association Board (Ifab), football’s law-making body, approved the regulations last month at Fifa’s prompting. They will take effect on 1 June and match officials have been instructed to apply them at this summer’s World Cup. Uefa’s decision, confirmed after its executive committee met in Istanbul this week, means the rules will not be enforced in the men’s or women’s Champions League or any of its other club competitions.
Uefa’s club competitions committee is expected to sign off next season’s regulations in Leipzig next week, with no significant changes anticipated. Uefa sources said its referees committee would monitor the impact of the new rules during the World Cup and could discuss potential changes during the next campaign.
Fifa’s new rules and the incidents that prompted them
Fifa pushed for the regulations in response to two major controversies earlier this year that it is determined to avoid repeating at the World Cup. The first occurred during a Champions League match in February, when Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him while covering his mouth with his shirt. Uefa subsequently banned Prestianni for six matches, with three of those suspended for two years, after finding him guilty of homophobic conduct; Prestianni denied the racial abuse allegation. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been a vocal advocate of the new rule, stating that if a player covers their mouth and says something with racist consequences, they should be sent off.
The second incident took place during the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, when Senegal players left the pitch for approximately 15 minutes in protest at a late penalty awarded to Morocco. Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missed the spot kick and Senegal went on to win in extra time, but the Confederation of African Football’s appeals committee later declared Morocco the 3-0 winners, a decision Senegal has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Infantino condemned the walk-off as “unacceptable”.
Under the new Ifab regulations, referees may issue a red card — at the discretion of the competition organiser — to any player who covers their mouth in a confrontational situation, and to any player who leaves the field in protest of a referee’s decision. Team officials who incite such actions are also liable. Fifa has said the changes are aimed at reducing time-wasting, increasing “ball-in-play” time, and tackling discriminatory and inappropriate behaviour.
Domestic leagues and other rule changes
Ifab has not mandated that the rule changes be enforced in all competitions, leaving domestic leagues with discretion over whether to introduce them. The Premier League will confirm its plans for next season after its clubs’ annual general meeting next month. Given that only Fifa has committed to applying the rules at this stage, it is considered unlikely the Premier League will adopt them.
Beyond the red-card regulations, Ifab has approved a wider package of rule changes due to take effect for the 2026 World Cup and the 2026-27 season. These include a five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks — possession switches if the ball is not put into play within that time — and a requirement for substituted players to leave the pitch within ten seconds, failing which their replacement must wait one minute before entering, leaving the team temporarily short-handed. Players receiving on-field medical treatment must stay off the pitch for one minute after play restarts. Goalkeepers will be restricted to holding the ball for eight seconds. Only the team captain will be authorised to approach and speak with the referee. Competitions also have the option to implement body cameras for referees. The use of VAR to review corners is an opt-in rule that the Premier League is not expected to adopt, though VAR may also be used to review second yellow cards that were incorrectly awarded.
Istanbul, where Uefa’s executive committee met, is due to host the 2026 Europa League final at Beşiktaş Park. Leipzig, where the club competitions committee will meet next week, will stage the 2026 Uefa Conference League final at the RB Arena. The 2026 Champions League final is scheduled for the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
