Revolution in FIFA Rules: Red Card for Covering Mouths and Racist Scandal in La Liga

World football is facing one of the most radical changes to the rules of the game in years. Gianni Infantino, at the helm of FIFA, has officially announced a fight against so-called "secret communication" on the pitch. The proposal to introduce a red card penalty for covering one's mouth with hands aims to facilitate the work of lip-reading analysis systems in cases of suspected player abuse. This initiative stems from a high-profile incident in the Champions League involving Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior. The lack of hard visual evidence prevented the punishment of a player despite serious racism allegations. Jose Mourinho also commented on this matter. The first written rules of football, known as the Laws of the Game, were created in 1863 at London's Freemasons' Tavern, but since 1886, their evolution has been overseen exclusively by IFAB. „When we see players covering their mouths when they say something to an opponent or the referee because they don't want it to be seen: then it has to be a red card.” — Gianni Infantino The situation in world football became even more tense after events last weekend in Spain. During the Elche vs. Espanyol match, the referee was forced to activate a special anti-racism protocol. Omar El Hilali accused Rafa Mir of directing the words "you came here on a dinghy" at him, which referred to the Moroccan defender's origin, although he was born in Spain's L'Hospitalet. The match was temporarily suspended, and the incident was noted in the referee's report, sparking a wave of condemnation from the Barcelona club. 3 — stages are outlined in FIFA's anti-racism protocol Critics of Infantino's proposal point to practical difficulties in enforcing the new law. Players routinely cover their mouths to hide tactical instructions from cameras and opponents. Nevertheless, support for the changes from the most important figures in football and the increasingly frequent cases of racism mean that IFAB may endorse these demands in the next legislative cycle. „Jose Mourinho says Gianluca Prestianni's Benfica career 'over' if alleged racist abuse proven” — Jose Mourinho Introducing the new rule could permanently change the way players interact on the pitch. The previous impunity for players hiding behind their hands may come to an end, fitting into FIFA's broader "Zero Tolerance for Racism" strategy. Although the idea sparks huge emotions, Infantino argues that football must become transparent, and every statement should be subject to potential verification by video systems.