Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie has become the second player to be sent off under FIFA’s new mouth-covering disciplinary rule at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Arsenal defender received a straight red card deep into stoppage time during Ecuador’s 2-0 Round of 32 defeat to Mexico.
This was for covering his mouth while confronting Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez. The incident occurred in the 95th minute with Ecuador already trailing. Hincapie approached Gimenez and spoke while shielding his mouth with his hand during the exchange.
Gimenez immediately drew the attention of referee Slavko Vincic, who was instructed to review the incident on the pitch side VAR monitor.
After watching the replay, the referee produced a straight red card, making Hincapie the second player to be dismissed under the tournament’s new law.
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The regulation, introduced for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, requires referees to send off any player who covers his mouth during a confrontational exchange with an opponent.
The rule forms part of measures aimed at preventing players from concealing abusive or offensive remarks during on-field disputes.
The law does not prohibit players from speaking privately during normal conversations but specifically targets incidents in confrontational situations where a player deliberately covers his mouth.
There has been no indication that Hincapie used discriminatory language during the altercation. His dismissal follows that of Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron, who became the first player punished under the rule after receiving a red card against Turkey earlier in the tournament.
The sending-off rounded off a disappointing evening for Ecuador, who exited the World Cup after first-half goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez secured a 2-0 victory for Mexico and a place in the Round of 16.
