‘Vinícius law’ approved
Referees will have the authority to send off players who cover their mouths while arguing with an opponent.
During the General Assembly of soccer’s rule-making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), held in Wales in March, it was agreed to introduce the new “Vinícius rule” at the World Cup, a regulation that will punish players who cover their mouths on the field when speaking to opponents. This Tuesday, IFAB unanimously approved the initiative at a special meeting in Canada. Gianni Infantino has been the main driver behind the rule, aimed at preventing cases like the recent one involving Gianluca Prestianni, who received a six-game suspension for proven homophobic insults directed at Vinícius Júnior, though not for racist abuse as the Brazilian had alleged.
The fact that he covered his mouth meant it could not be conclusively proven that racist insults had been made. That is precisely what FIFA wants to prevent. The idea is that any player who covers their mouth while addressing an opponent can be sent off.
However, not everyone agreed this was the best solution to curb such incidents. FIFA has discussed the implementation of the new rule with various confederations during a council meeting held Tuesday in Vancouver. One of the agenda items referred to an “extraordinary IFAB meeting,” the body responsible for setting the laws of the game, which ultimately gave its approval.
Some critics of the new rule argued that players often cover their mouths to stop opponents from reading their tactics or to avoid being picked up by television cameras while talking to teammates. Not all such exchanges involve insults.
Another soccer rule change
At the same extraordinary meeting in Canada, IFAB also approved another rule change. This new directive involves sanctioning players who leave the field in protest of a referee’s decision. “Any player who leaves the field of play in protest of a referee’s decision may be sent off. This rule will also apply to any member of the coaching staff who encourages players to leave the field.”
Additionally, there is a direct reference to events in the Africa Cup of Nations Final and the controversy between Senegal and Morocco: “A team that causes a match to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the game.”
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