The football world awaits the verdict from the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport regarding the contentious Senegal-Morocco final. However, one aspect is abundantly clear: the entire protracted dispute could have been managed far more effectively, ideally preventing a scenario where a match result is overturned via an off-field decision months after the final whistle.
To preempt such prolonged controversies, FIFA has taken significant steps, issuing new directives during a congress held this week in Vancouver. According to reports from The Times, the governing body has instructed referees to immediately issue a red card to any player who exits the field in protest against an official’s decision.
A similar stern penalty will apply to any member of the coaching or support staff who encourages players to engage in such conduct. Furthermore, if an entire team collectively retreats to the dressing room, mirroring the actions seen from Senegal, it will automatically result in a forfeited match. This particular regulation is not entirely new; it’s the very rule that the CAF invoked when awarding Morocco the victory by administrative decision in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
FIFA also addresses the Vinicius incident
In a separate but equally important development, FIFA has also implemented measures in response to another notable incident from recent weeks: the Vinicius-Prestianni affair. The Brazilian star accused the Benfica player of directing racist slurs towards him. Ultimately, the Argentinian player faced sanctions for homophobic insults, which he admitted to uttering.
FIFA’s decisive response? Players who speak to an opponent while covering their mouth with their hand will now be shown a red card. This measure aims to facilitate lip-reading, thereby making it easier to identify and penalize any potential racist or discriminatory remarks that might otherwise go unnoticed by officials or opposing players.
