Why Jude Bellingham Avoided a Red Card Under FIFA's New Rule

ASFN Admin · Jun 29, 2026

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Jude Bellingham sparked debate during England's scoreless draw with Ghana after cameras caught him covering his mouth while speaking with Ghana forward Jordan Ayew.

The moment caught attention because of a new rule introduced for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that allows players to be sent off for covering their mouths while speaking to opponents during confrontational situations.

Despite online speculation, however, Bellingham was never in danger of receiving a red card. The difference comes down to the context.

Ahead of the tournament, FIFA clarified that players are not banned from covering their mouths altogether. The rule specifically targets situations where players hide their mouths during heated confrontations or arguments with opponents.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushed for the change following a series of incidents involving discriminatory language in professional soccer. The goal of the rule is to discourage abusive comments that cannot be detected by cameras or officials.

Before the World Cup began, FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, explained that players could still cover their mouths during normal conversations.

"It's normal to chat before, during, or after the match," Collina said. "If the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem."

According to FIFA's interpretation, the problem arises when players conceal their mouths during an aggressive exchange.

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

That distinction is what protected Bellingham. Video of the England star's interaction with Ayew showed no signs of hostility. The two players appeared to be having a casual conversation rather than engaging in an argument or dispute.

The tournament's first red card under the rule came days earlier when Paraguay's Miguel Almirón was dismissed against Turkey.

Unlike the Bellingham incident, Almiron's exchange occurred during a heated confrontation between players following a controversial challenge. After a video review, officials determined the situation met the criteria for punishment under the new law. Infantino later defended the rule.

"This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule," he said. "It's about respect. It's about the example that we should give."

The FIFA president added: "If you have nothing to hide, you don't cover your mouth when you speak to somebody."

The rule remains exclusive to the 2026 World Cup for now, with competitions able to decide whether they want to adopt it in the future.