Another World Cup Red Card: Arsenal's Hincapie Sanctioned for Mouth Covering

Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié, who plays for Arsenal Football Club, has made history as the second player to be dismissed with a red card at the ongoing 2026 World Cup for intentionally obscuring his mouth during a confrontation with an opponent. The incident occurred during the second half's additional time in Ecuador's Round of 32 clash against Mexico.

With his team trailing 2-0, Hincapié was seen covering his mouth while engaging Mexico's Santiago Giménez. Giménez promptly brought the matter to the attention of referee Slavko Vinčič. After consulting the video assistant referee (VAR) monitor for a quick review, Vinčič subsequently issued a red card to the Ecuadorian international. Mexico ultimately secured a 2-0 victory, advancing them to the Round of 16, where they are scheduled to compete against either England or DR Congo.

This 2026 World Cup marks a significant change, as it is the first tournament where referees are empowered to issue red cards for players who cover their mouths during on-field confrontations. This new regulation was established following a Champions League encounter in February, where Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni used his jersey to cover his mouth while verbally abusing Real Madrid's star player, Vinicius Junior. This action made it impossible for match officials to discern what was being communicated.

In response, FIFA implemented this new protocol, granting referees the authority to penalize any player who covers their mouth during a direct confrontation with a red card. The inaugural player to be sent off under this specific rule was Paraguay's Miguel Almirón, who received a red card earlier in the tournament during his country's 1-0 group-stage win against Turkey.