Why Jude Bellingham was not sent off despite breaking the most debated new rule World Cup Football News:
England midfielder Jude Bellingham was at the center of a new World Cup controversy in Tuesday’s goalless draw in Ghana after television cameras caught him covering his mouth while talking to Ghana captain Jordan Ayew. With FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule already producing the first red card of the tournament, many viewers are questioning why the England star escaped punishment.The incident occurred during England’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Ghana in Boston, a result that left Group L well balanced heading into the final round of fixtures.Bellingham’s interaction with Ayew quickly attracted attention as FIFA introduced a new regulation ahead of the 2026 World Cup allowing players to be sent off if they cover their mouths while facing opponents.However, the key word in the law is confrontation.
What does FIFA’s new gag rule say?
The rule was introduced after FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for stricter measures following an incident involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, who received a six-match UEFA ban for homophobic behavior towards Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match earlier this year.Before the World Cup, the head of FIFA referees, Pierluigi Collina, made it clear that covering the mouth itself is not prohibited.“The players can continue to cover their mouth with the sleeve and the shirt because they can chat with friends,” Collina explained before the tournament.“It’s normal to chat before, during or after the game.“So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can keep it going without a problem.“If the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means you’re doing something wrong, maybe, and the punishment is the red card.”That distinction ultimately proved crucial in Bellingham’s case.
Why wasn’t Bellingham punished?
Although images of the England midfielder talking to Ayew have been widely circulated, there is no indication that the exchange was hostile or confrontational.Sources told ESPN that Bellingham’s discussion with the Ghana captain was not considered aggressive, meaning the incident did not meet the threshold required for disciplinary action under new FIFA regulations.Players, coaches and even referees are often seen covering their mouths during conversations throughout the tournament. FIFA’s concern is specifically focused on situations involving arguments, confrontations or potentially abusive language.Because of this, referee Hector Said Martinez Sorto or the video assistant referee did not consider the incident worthy of review.
How different is Miguel Almirón’s red card
Comparisons often made include Paraguay forward Miguel Almirón, who became the first player in World Cup history to be sent off under the new rule.Almirón was dismissed during Paraguay’s Group D match against Turkey after a heated confrontation involving Turkish defender Mert Müldür.The incident occurred after Paraguay’s Isidro Pitta went down after a challenge by Ismail Yüksek, which sparked a fight between the two sets of players. During the confrontation, Almirón covered his mouth while talking to Müldür.After a VAR review, the officials deemed the situation confrontational and issued a red card.Speaking after the incident, Infantino reinforced FIFA’s position.“This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very important rule,” he said.“It’s about respect. It’s about the example we set.“If you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you talk to someone.“The rules are made very clear to everyone.”
Bellingham also addressed the Ghanaian banking tussle
While the conversation with Ayew was deemed harmless, Bellingham was involved in a separate flashpoint during the match that began at halftime and carried into the second half.The Real Madrid midfielder was involved in a heated, heated exchange with members of Ghana’s coaching staff, including manager Carlos Queiroz and assistant John Paintsil, after a powerful challenge by Ghana defender Jerome Opoku. The confrontation initially erupted at half-time after a dubious tackle, with tensions rising as both benches reacted angrily before continuing during the match.Speaking afterwards, Bellingham admitted he had misjudged the tackle but insisted the misunderstanding stemmed from the competitive nature of the game.“I made a stupid tackle to be honest. I was trying to win the ball and I followed a bit and caught the guy, I spoke to him afterwards and then their bench jumped to get me a yellow card,” said Bellingham.“So yeah, I think their manager, I just know him, obviously at Manchester United [Carlos Queiroz]a lot of respect and nothing but competition for both of us.”
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