FIFA clarifies rules on players covering their mouths during matches following Bellingham-Ayew incident

FIFA has clarified the regulations governing players covering their mouths during conversations on the pitch following an exchange between England midfielder Jude Bellingham and Ghana captain Jordan Ayew.

Questions were raised after Bellingham was not sanctioned during England's match against Ghana when he covered his mouth while speaking to Ayew.

The incident drew comparisons with an earlier case during the 2026 FIFA World Cup involving Paraguay's Miguel Almirón and Turkey's Mert Müldür.

Almirón was sent off after covering his mouth during an exchange with Müldür, who subsequently reported the incident to the referee.

FIFA has since explained that disciplinary action depends on the nature of the interaction.

The governing body stated that, at the discretion of the competition organiser, a player who covers their mouth during a confrontational exchange with an opponent may be shown a red card.

According to the Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, the context of the conversation is the key factor in determining whether an offence has occurred, a report by Sky Sports said. 

“If the conversation is a friendly conversation, players can continue to do it without any problem. However, when the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that a player is doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card,” Collina explained.

The exchange between Bellingham and Ayew took place during the England-Ghana match in Boston on 23 June 2026. 

Match officials did not consider the interaction to be confrontational and, as a result, no disciplinary action was taken against the England midfielder.

The encounter ended in a draw, with Ghana assuming an impenetrable defence shape aided by a vigilant goalkeeper, and England failing countlessly to convert their grand chances.