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Players at the upcoming FIFA World Cup risk receiving a red card for covering their mouths while speaking to opponents during confrontations. The new rule will come into effect at the June-July global football showpiece in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The rule was approved at the International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting in Vancouver, Canada, on Tuesday. Besides the landmark decision to prevent racism in football, one more FIFA-proposed law amendment was approved.

Players who walk off the pitch as a mark of protest to a referee’s decisions could also be sent off. The decision follows unruly scenes at the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal in January earlier this year.

Both law changes, which were approved as competition opt-ins by the IFAB, will be adopted at the upcoming World Cup, confirmed FIFA.

Gianluca Prestianni-Vinicius Jr UCL controversy forces FIFA to implement strict laws to stop racism in football

The new rule to send off players covering their mouths will come into effect following a controversial incident in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt to cover his mouth while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match.

Vinicius Jr accused the Argentina international of hurling racist abuses at him. After initially provisionally suspending Prestianni for a match, UEFA, after thorough investigation, found the Benfica player guilty and banned him for six matches – three of which were suspended.

The issue was one of the major talking points at the IFAB annual general meeting in Wales later that month, where members agreed to reconvene ahead of this week’s FIFA Council in Vancouver.

While the FIFA-proposed law amendment has been approved, the decision remains at the full discretion of the referee, who will review and examine all circumstances carefully before issuing a red card.