Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie became the second player to receive a red card under FIFA's new mouth-covering rule after being sent off during his side's 2-0 defeat to Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Arsenal centre-back was dismissed deep into second-half stoppage time after covering his mouth while confronting Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez. Ecuador were already trailing 2-0, with the defeat confirming their elimination from the tournament.
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic initially missed the incident but was instructed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review the footage on the pitchside monitor. After watching the replay, Vincic showed Hincapie a straight red card.
Hincapie is the second player to be sent off under FIFA's new regulation introduced for the 2026 World Cup.
The first was Paraguay winger Miguel Almiron, who received a red card against Turkey during the group stage for a similar offence. Despite the dismissal, Paraguay held on to secure a 1-0 victory.
In contrast, England midfielder Jude Bellingham avoided punishment last week after covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana captain Jordan Ayew, with officials deciding the interaction did not warrant a dismissal.
Ahead of the tournament, FIFA's head of referees Pierluigi Collina clarified that players are still permitted to cover their mouths during friendly conversations.
However, the law specifically targets confrontational exchanges, with the aim of discouraging abusive or discriminatory language that cannot be detected by officials or cameras.
The regulation was approved during a special meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver in April.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously backed the measure, stating that referees should operate on the presumption that players who deliberately conceal their mouths during heated confrontations may be saying "something they shouldn't have."
The issue gained prominence in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a UEFA Champions League match.
The Argentina international was initially accused of racist abuse, allegations he denied, before a UEFA investigation concluded he was guilty of homophobic conduct instead. Prestianni received a six-match suspension, with three matches suspended.
While the new FIFA rule allows referees to issue red cards for confrontational mouth-covering incidents, the final decision remains at the official's discretion after considering the circumstances of each case.
