A player can get a red card for covering their mouth because football’s lawmakers now treat that gesture as a way to hide abusive or discriminatory comments during a confrontation. The rule is aimed at transparency: if a player hides their lips while arguing with an opponent, referees may sanction it as serious misconduct rather than let the exchange stay hidden.

Why the rule exists

The main concern is that mouth-covering makes it hard to verify what was said, especially in heated moments where racist, homophobic, or other abusive language could be concealed. FIFA and IFAB approved the change in April 2026 specifically to stop discriminatory behavior from being shielded from officials and cameras.

How it works

It is not a blanket ban on covering your mouth. If players are quietly talking in a normal, non-confrontational context, that is generally treated differently; the punishment is for covering the mouth during a confrontation with an opponent. In practice, referees can interpret that as immediate red- card behavior if it appears to be hiding a heated exchange.

Why fans noticed it

The rule became a talking point after a World Cup incident involving Miguel Almirón, who was reportedly sent off for covering his mouth while speaking during an altercation. That made the new law feel dramatic, but the intent is not “mouth covering itself,” it is preventing hidden abuse in tense moments.

Bottom line

So the red card is really about concealing what you said during a confrontation, not about the physical act of putting a hand over your mouth by itself.