The FIFA 2026 World Cup is just around the corner. This is the first iteration of a World Cup that will have 48 countries, meaning more work for FIFA to safeguard the laws of the game.
It has been evident in several La Liga and European matches that racism is rampant in football. Keeping that in mind, FIFA has taken additional measures to make sure a perpetrator gets punished properly.
The law originates from Prestianni 's exchange with Vinicius. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
According to El Mundo , one of the most significant new rules heading into the tournament is the so-called 'Vinicius Law', which will see any player who covers their mouth while arguing with an opponent shown a straight red card.
The rule originates directly from the incident involving Vinicius Jr and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during their Champions League clash in Lisbon earlier this season.
Vinicius alleged that Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt and directed a racist insult at him, an insult that neither the referee nor television cameras could capture precisely because of the deliberate concealment.
Despite the lack of visual evidence, Vinicius was believed, and UEFA handed Prestianni a six-match suspension.
IFAB subsequently ruled that covering the mouth in any moment of conflict or tension should be punishable with a red card.
FIFA is ready to clamp down on racism. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The law does not prohibit players from covering their mouths in friendly conversation, but any instance of doing so during a confrontation will result in immediate dismissal.
It is a direct and enforceable response to a form of concealment that had previously gone unpunished.
Beyond the Vinicius Law, VAR will play a more prominent role at the tournament, intervening in questionable second yellow card decisions and corner kick disputes.
Players who leave the field in protest will also face a red card, following incidents at the Africa Cup of Nations final.
