England midfielder Jude Bellingham was caught covering his mouth when speaking to Ghana striker Jordan Ayew during Tuesday’s goalless draw, prompting many to question why he was not shown a red card in accordance with FIFA’s new World Cup rules.
The governing body states that a player who covers their mouth while confronting an opponent will be sent off, a rule that had Paraguay forward Miguel Almirón marching down the tunnel in the first half of his side’s 1–0 win over Türkiye on Friday. The 32-year-old covered his mouth during an altercation with Mert Müldür and paid the price.
