England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana left Thomas Tuchel’s side frustrated after a lack of attacking quality, but attention during the match also focused on Jude Bellingham being seen speaking to Ghana captain Jordan Ayew with his hand over his mouth. Earlier in the tournament, Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón was dismissed for a similar act, prompting questions about the differing outcomes.
Bellingham had been involved in a heated exchange with a member of the Ghana coaching staff at half-time and was later pictured talking to Ayew while covering his mouth. Players increasingly cover their mouths to prevent television cameras from capturing what they are saying.
FIFA introduced the rule to discourage players from uttering controversial or offensive remarks during matches, a move taken after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni received a six-game ban for anti-gay conduct towards Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game earlier this year. The regulations clarify that covering the mouth is not automatically punishable.
FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina said before the World Cup that players may continue to cover their mouth with an arm or shirt because they might simply be chatting with friends. Under the rule, a send-off is warranted only if the exchange amounts to a confrontation or argument — a threshold that was not met in Bellingham’s interaction with Ayew.
By contrast, Almirón became the first player dismissed under the new provision after a heated clash between Paraguay and Türkiye. That incident followed a scuffle after a challenge by Türkiye’s Ismail Yüksek on Paraguay’s Isidro Pitta; Almirón covered his mouth during a confrontation with Mert Mulder and, following a VAR review, the referee issued a red card.
