FIFA: IFAB hardens its tone after the Vinicius scandals and the 2025 AFCON final

Two major encounters of this season and two almost endless polemics that ended up having repercussions that mark a disciplinary turning point in the game. At the instigation of FIFA, the IFAB unanimously approved two radical changes to regulate the behaviour of players in the game. These decisions follow a season marked by two incidents that have shaken international bodies, pushing legislators to act urgently to preserve the ethics of sport.

Amendment "Vinicius - Prestianni": end of impunity under the hands

The first measure targets a practice that has become commonplace: players covering their mouths with their hands or jerseys to mask their words. This law stems directly from the case that pitted Vinicius against the Argentine Gianluca Prestianni during the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid. As a reminder, the Brazilian striker had accused his opponent of racist insults, while the latter had carefully hidden his mouth under his jersey to escape the cameras and lip readers.

From now on, this grey area disappears from the rules. FIFA was crystal clear in its statement:

"At the discretion of the competition organizer, any player who covers their mouth during a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card."

The objective is clear: to enforce transparency during altercations and allow video evidence to identify possible discriminatory slippages. Moreover, after an investigation, the 20-year-old midfielder of Benfica Lisbon was finally suspended by UEFA for "homophobic behavior".

The response to the chaos of the 2025 AFCON finals
The second amendment deals with arbitration authority and game continuity, in response to the earthquake of the AFCON 2025 final. During this match between Morocco and Senegal, the Lions had decided to leave the field under the leadership of their coach Pape Thiaw to protest against a whistled penalty in favor of the Atlas Lions. A historic exit from the field that left the title in suspense, the winner still to be designated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

To prevent such a situation from recurring, potentially during the upcoming World Cup, and from paralyzing a competition, the IFAB introduces an immediate and collective sanction:

"At the discretion of the competition organizer, the referee may issue a red card to any player who leaves the field of play in protest against an arbitration decision. This new rule will also apply to any team official who induces players to leave the field. Any team that causes the permanent stoppage of a match will, in principle, be declared as losing-game.”

Willingness to be firm displayed in Vancouver
These two reforms were not born by chance. As stated at the meeting in Vancouver, they are the result of "extensive consultations by FIFA with all relevant stakeholders". By hardening the Laws of the Game, the IFAB sends a message of firmness to players and technical staff: the sports show can no longer be hostage to unsportsmanlike behavior or strategies of obstruction to the field justice.

These new rules, which now integrate the legislative body of football, should radically change the face of tensions on the pitch at the end of this season and for the upcoming World Cup.