Why was Bellingham not sent off for covering his mouth while talking?
US - Jude Bellingham sparked debate by covering his mouth with his hand while talking to Jordan Ayew during the 0-0 draw between England and Ghana in the second round of the 2026 World Cup.
The incident occurred in the second half at the Boston stadium on June 23. Bellingham stood next to Ayew and covered his mouth with his hand while talking to the Ghanaian striker. However, the VAR team did not intervene, and the referee did not consider a red card for the England midfielder. This image went viral on social media.
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Bellingham (right) covers his mouth while talking to Ayew during the 0-0 draw between England and Ghana in the second round of Group L of the 2026 World Cup in Boston, Massachusetts, USA on June 23. Photo: Screenshot
The 2026 World Cup introduced a new rule allowing referees to send off players who cover their mouths while talking to opponents. Therefore, many fans questioned why Bellingham did not receive a red card, especially after Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became the first player sent off under this rule.
Many people misunderstood that covering one's mouth while talking on the pitch was completely banned. In reality, the new regulation does not target the act of covering the mouth, but focuses on cases where players deliberately hide the content of their exchange during confrontations or arguments with opponents.
Before the 2026 World Cup kicked off, FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina clearly explained this issue. According to him, players are still allowed to use their hands or shirts to cover their mouths during normal conversations with teammates, friends, or opponents.
"That is completely normal before, during, or after the match," Collina said. "If the conversation is friendly, they can continue to do so without any problems. But when the exchange is confrontational, covering the mouth could indicate that the person is doing something very serious, and the punishment will be a red card."
That is the key difference in Bellingham's case. Although images show him covering his mouth while talking to Ayew, there were no signs of tension, arguing, or scuffling between the two players. The exchange was deemed normal and did not fall under the category of behavior FIFA wants to address with the new rule.
In the early days of the 2026 World Cup, images of players covering their mouths while talking appeared quite frequently. Even some referees did the same when communicating on the pitch. Therefore, the act of covering the mouth alone is not sufficient grounds for dismissal.
The new rule was implemented by FIFA following a proposal by President Gianni Infantino. The root cause was the case of Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni, who was suspended for six matches by UEFA in February for homophobic behavior targeting Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match.
FIFA believes that covering the mouth makes it difficult for governing bodies to determine the content of exchanges between players, especially in cases involving offensive behavior, discrimination, or inappropriate language.
Almiron became the first player to receive a red card under the new regulation. In the match against Turkey, striker Isidro Pitta fell after a collision with Ismail Yuksek, leading to a scuffle between players of both teams.
Almiron covers his mouth while talking to Muldur in the 2026 World Cup Group D match between Paraguay and Turkey in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco, USA on June 19. Photo: Screenshot
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Almiron covered his mouth while talking to defender Mert Muldur. The Turkish defender raised his hand, shouted, and reported it to the referee. Although the two players were not directly involved in the scuffle, VAR still requested the referee to review the situation. As a result, Almiron was sent off and subsequently received a one-match ban.
Speaking about the decision, FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that the new rule is directly related to the issue of respect on the pitch. "This is a very important rule, related to respect and the example we must set," he said. "If there is nothing to hide, players will not cover their mouths when talking to others. The regulations have been explained very clearly to everyone."
Even so, the new regulation remains controversial. According to the BBC, some experts argue that it is difficult to define the line between a normal conversation and a confrontation serious enough to warrant a red card. In addition, there is also a risk of players exploiting the rule by complaining to the referee whenever an opponent covers their mouth during an exchange.