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UEFA Rejects FIFA's Strict Red Card Rule
3 Jul
Summary
- UEFA will not adopt FIFA's red card rule for covering mouths.
- The rule was implemented at the 2026 World Cup to deter verbal abuse.
- UEFA prefers a yellow card for unsporting behavior instead.
UEFA has confirmed it will not adopt FIFA's new guideline, dubbed the 'Prestianni Rule,' which mandates a red card for players covering their mouths during on-pitch altercations. This rule was introduced at the 2026 World Cup to combat discriminatory language. FIFA's International Football Association Board (IFAB) passed the law in April, and it saw two players ejected during the tournament.
Instead of FIFA's strict red card, UEFA will instruct referees to issue yellow cards for players attempting to conceal communication as unsporting behavior. This lesser punishment will apply to UEFA's competitions, including the Champions League and the European Championship. The rule's origin traces back to an incident involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, where accusations of racist and homophobic slurs were made, but proof was obscured.
At the 2026 World Cup, Paraguay's Miguel Almirón and Ecuador's Piero Hincapié were sent off under the new FIFA directive. FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, clarified that the rule targets confrontational conversations, not friendly chats. However, the potential for subjective interpretation and the presumption of guilt have led UEFA to diverge from FIFA's approach.
