UEFA rejects FIFA mouth‑cover rule for Champions League and other club competitions

UEFA announced that it will not adopt FIFA's new disciplinary rule that automatically dismisses players who deliberately cover their mouths while speaking to opponents, teammates or officials. The rule, which has been applied at the FIFA World Cup as a red‑card offence and is sometimes referred to as the “Prestianni law” or “Vinicius clause”, will not be enforced in UEFA’s Champions League, Europa League or Conference League. Instead, UEFA said referees will sanction such behaviour with a yellow card for unsporting conduct. The decision underscores the differing regulatory approaches of the two governing bodies. UEFA also confirmed that VAR will continue to be used to check incorrect corner decisions, mirroring the practice at the World Cup.