During England's 0-0 draw with Ghana in the 2026 World Cup, Jude Bellingham was pictured covering his mouth while speaking to opponent Jordan Ayew, sparking online fury and confusion over a controversial new rule. But the 22-year-old midfielder was not even booked, let alone sent off. So what exactly did he do, and why did he escape punishment?
The law in question was brought in for the 2026 World Cup at the request of Fifa president Gianni Infantino. It says a player can be sent off with a red card if they hide their mouth when speaking to an opponent during a confrontational exchange. The rule was introduced after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni received a six-match ban from Uefa for homophobic conduct towards Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game in February.
“Why players can be sent off for covering their mouth in confrontations – and why Bellingham wasn't”
Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became the first player to be sent off under the new law at the weekend, when the video assistant referee (VAR) advised a red card after he covered his mouth while talking to Turkey's Mert Muldur in a heated situation. A melee had broken out between the two sets of players, and despite Almiron not being directly involved in the pushing and shoving, the game was in a confrontational state.
So why was Bellingham not shown a red card? Context is key, said Pierluigi Collina, Fifa's head of referees. Covering the mouth has not been banned – players can still do it during friendly chats before, during or after matches, and even referees have been seen doing it at this World Cup. The ban applies only when the conversation is confrontational, because covering the mouth implies you are doing something very wrong. In Bellingham's case, there was no animosity between him and Ayew; it was merely two players chatting. The game was not in a heated state at that moment, unlike the Almiron incident.
For UK readers watching their national team and domestic stars, the rule is a new layer of discipline that could affect England players in future matches. It also raises questions about whether players might feign confrontation to get an opponent sent off, as seen with Almiron, who did not appear to be acting aggressively. Infantino has defended the rule, saying: "It's about respect. It's about the example that we should give. If you have nothing to hide, you don't cover your mouth when you speak to somebody."
Q: Is covering your mouth banned in football? No, the ban is only when a player covers their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent. Friendly conversations, whether before, during or after the match, are still allowed. Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm or shirt to chat with friends.
Q: Who was the first player sent off under this rule? Paraguay's Miguel Almiron was the first to be shown a red card for the offence, against Turkey at the weekend. The VAR advised the referee to upgrade a yellow to a red after Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to an opponent in a heated melee.
Q: Why wasn't Jude Bellingham sent off for covering his mouth? Because his interaction with Ghana's Jordan Ayew was purely friendly with no animosity. The rule only applies when the conversation is confrontational; Fifa's head of referees Pierluigi Collina clarified that context is crucial in deciding a red card.
What happens next is uncertain. More incidents are likely as players and officials adapt to the new rule. The potential for players to use the law to get rivals sent off remains a concern, but for now, the onus is on referees to judge the context of each conversation. As the tournament progresses, expect every covered mouth to be scrutinised.