England midfielder Jude Bellingham became the centre of a fresh World Cup controversy during Tuesday’s goalless draw with Ghana after television cameras captured him covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana captain Jordan Ayew. With FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule already producing the tournament’s first red card, many viewers questioned why the England star escaped punishment.The incident occurred during England’s frustrating 0-0 draw against Ghana in Boston, a result that left Group L finely balanced heading into the final round of fixtures.Bellingham’s interaction with Ayew quickly attracted attention because FIFA introduced a new regulation ahead of the 2026 World Cup allowing players to be sent off if they cover their mouths while confronting opponents.However, the key word in the law is confrontation.
What does FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule actually 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 conduct towards Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match earlier this year.Ahead of the World Cup, FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, made it clear that covering the mouth itself was not prohibited.“Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm and the shirt because they may chat with friends,” Collina explained before the tournament.“It’s normal to chat before, during or after the match.“So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem.“When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card.”That distinction ultimately proved crucial in Bellingham’s case.
Why Bellingham was not punished
Although images of the England midfielder speaking to Ayew circulated widely, there was no indication that the exchange was hostile or confrontational.Sources told ESPN that Bellingham’s discussion with the Ghana captain was not deemed aggressive, meaning the incident did not meet the threshold required for disciplinary action under FIFA’s new regulation.Players, coaches and even referees have regularly been seen covering their mouths during conversations throughout the tournament. FIFA’s concern is specifically focused on situations involving arguments, confrontations or potentially abusive language.As a result, neither referee Hector Said Martinez Sorto nor the video assistant referee considered the incident worthy of review.
How Miguel Almirón’s red card was different
The comparison most frequently made involved 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 clash against Türkiye following a heated confrontation involving Turkish defender Mert Müldür.The incident occurred after Paraguay’s Isidro Pitta went down following a challenge from Ismail Yüksek, triggering a melee between both sets of players. During the confrontation, Almirón covered his mouth while speaking to Müldür.Following a VAR review, officials deemed the situation confrontational and issued a red card.Speaking after that incident, Infantino reinforced FIFA’s position.“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.“If you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you speak to somebody.“The rules have been made very clear to everyone.”
Bellingham also addresses clash with Ghana bench
While the conversation with Ayew was deemed harmless, Bellingham was involved in a separate flashpoint during the match that began at half-time and carried into the second half.The Real Madrid midfielder became embroiled in a heated, foul-mouthed exchange with members of Ghana’s coaching staff, including manager Carlos Queiroz and assistant John Paintsil, after a strong challenge on Ghana defender Jerome Opoku. The confrontation initially erupted at half-time following the reckless tackle, with tensions spilling over as both benches reacted angrily before continuing during the match.Speaking afterwards, Bellingham admitted he had mistimed the tackle but insisted the disagreement stemmed from the competitive nature of the match.“I made a silly tackle to be honest. I was trying to win the ball and I followed through a little bit and caught the lad, I spoke to him after and then their bench jumped up trying to get me a yellow card,” Bellingham said.“So yeah I think their manager, I just recognized him, was obviously the one who used to be at Manchester United [Carlos Queiroz], so great respect and nothing but a competitive edge for both of us.”
