Why Jude Bellingham escaped red under FIFA’s new ‘mouth-covering’ law

A high-stakes moment during England’s 0-0 draw against Ghana on Tuesday has sparked intense debate, thrusting England midfielder Jude Bellingham into the centre of a brewing World Cup controversy.

Images of Bellingham covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana’s Jordan Ayew quickly went viral, leaving fans and pundits questioning why the England star was not sent off under FIFA’s strict new disciplinary regulations.

The confusion stems from a groundbreaking law introduced just ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Under the new rule, players can face an immediate red card if they cover their mouths while speaking to an opponent.

The context is crucial. Covering the mouth is not banned but doing so during a confrontation with another player is.

Before the tournament, Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of referees, was quite clear.

“Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm and the shirt because they may chat with friends,” Collina said.

“It’s normal to chat before, during or after the match. So if the conversation is friendly, they can continue to do it without any problem.”

“When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card.”

The Birth of the Ban

FIFA President Gianni Infantino heavily pushed for the rule’s introduction following a major incident in February.

During a Champions League clash, Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was hit with a six-match ban by UEFA for homophobic conduct directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.

Because players frequently hide their lips to evade broadcast cameras and lip-readers, proving verbal abuse has historically been a challenge for officials.

The new law has already claimed its first high-profile casualty. Over the weekend, Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player in World Cup history to be sent off for the offence during a match against Turkey, after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review flagged the incident and advised a red card.

With Almiron’s dismissal fresh in everyone’s minds, viewers expected VAR to intervene during Tuesday’s clash in Boston when Bellingham covered his face.

Same action, different outcoume thus opening an interesting debate on consistency in the decision making at the on going world cup.

The post Why Jude Bellingham escaped red under FIFA’s new ‘mouth-covering’ law appeared first on Kawowo Sports.