Football’s top governing body, Fifa, is taking decisive steps to curb controversial decisions and player misconduct after a series of high-profile incidents. While awaiting the Court of Arbitration for Sport‘s ruling on the Senegal–Morocco final, the organization has introduced stricter guidelines to prevent future disputes.
The latest measures aim to eliminate the kind of administrative chaos that led to a last-minute reversal of the match result. Under the new directives, referees are instructed to immediately issue a red card to any player who leaves the pitch in protest against an official’s decision. Similarly, coaching staff members who encourage such behavior will face the same punishment.
Even more severe consequences await teams that collectively abandon the field, as seen in the Senegal case during the African Cup of Nations (CAN) final. According to existing regulations—which the Confederation of African Football (CAF) applied to award victory to Morocco by default—such actions will result in an automatic forfeit.
new fifa rules target racism and misconduct
In a parallel move, Fifa has addressed another contentious issue: racial abuse in football. Following accusations of racism between Vinícius Júnior and Gonzalo Prestianni, the organization has introduced a rule banning players from covering their mouths with their hands while speaking to opponents. This change is designed to prevent racially charged remarks from going unnoticed by referees and cameras.
The sanction reflects Fifa‘s commitment to combating discrimination in the sport. By ensuring transparency in player communication, the governing body hopes to foster a more inclusive environment on the pitch.
