Spanish referees set to ignore ‘Vinicius rule’ in domestic competitions

Spanish referees will not enforce the controversial so-called ‘Vinicius rule’ in domestic competitions next season.

The decision means players in Spain will not automatically be shown a red card simply for covering their mouths while speaking to an opponent during a confrontation.

The issue has become one of the most debated refereeing developments in football after the incident involving Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni during their Champions League meeting.

The incident brought renewed attention to the practice of players covering their mouths when speaking to opponents, particularly because it can make it difficult for referees, television cameras and other officials to determine whether offensive, discriminatory or abusive language has been used.

The controversy intensified after Vinicius reported that he had been subjected to a racist insult during the exchange with Prestianni.

The incident subsequently became part of a wider discussion about how football authorities should deal with players attempting to conceal what they are saying on the pitch.

FIFA later introduced regulations targeting the behaviour at the 2026 World Cup, with referees instructed to take disciplinary action in specific confrontational situations where players deliberately conceal their mouths while speaking to opponents.

The rule was notably applied during the tournament, including in the case involving Paraguay international Miguel Almirón and Turkey defender Mert Müldür.

However, Marca reports that Spanish football will take a different approach when the domestic season begins.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has given individual competitions room to decide whether to implement the measure. The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) in Spain has subsequently decided against adopting the rule in Spanish competitions.

As a result, covering the mouth while speaking to an opponent will not, by itself, be sufficient grounds for a player to receive a red card in Spanish domestic football.

The Spanish refereeing authorities reportedly believe that automatically punishing a player for the gesture would be excessive, particularly because referees cannot always determine what was actually said during such exchanges.

The CTA’s position was summed up by the following statement:

“Covering the mouth will not be a reason to show the red card. We do not know what the player may have said, and it seems to us unfair and exaggerated.”

The stance adopted by Spain creates a notable difference between domestic football and the approach seen during the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA’s decision to address the behaviour was driven largely by concerns that players could deliberately conceal abusive or discriminatory comments from match officials. Covering the mouth can make it significantly harder for referees to identify what has been said, especially during heated confrontations.

The World Cup provided an early indication of how the regulation could be used.

Almirón was among the players to attract attention under the new guidelines after he covered his mouth while speaking to Müldür during Paraguay’s match against Turkey.

However, the application of the rule also generated debate over its interpretation and consistency.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was, for example, seen covering his mouth while speaking with Ghana international Jordan Ayew during the World Cup but was not punished.

That incident highlighted the importance of context when referees assess situations involving players covering their mouths. The regulation is primarily concerned with confrontational situations in which there is a possibility that a player is deliberately concealing offensive or abusive language, rather than ordinary conversations between players.

Spain’s decision not to adopt the measure means referees in the country will continue to rely on the existing disciplinary regulations when dealing with incidents involving offensive or abusive language.

In practical terms, a player will not be dismissed merely because he places his hand over his mouth while talking to an opponent.

However, if a referee has sufficient evidence of misconduct or abusive language, disciplinary action can still be taken under the relevant laws of the game.

The decision is likely to generate further discussion across European football, particularly because different competitions can now take different approaches to the same type of incident.

It also means that players competing in Spain could face a different interpretation of the behaviour from those representing their countries in international competitions.

For Spanish clubs and players, however, the position is clear ahead of the new season.

The CTA does not believe that covering the mouth should automatically constitute an offence punishable by a red card.

The Spanish refereeing authorities instead prefer to consider the circumstances surrounding each incident and determine whether there is sufficient evidence of misconduct.

The decision represents a more cautious interpretation of the measure and ensures that Spanish domestic competitions will not follow the strictest approach seen during the 2026 World Cup.

With the new Spanish season approaching, the so-called ‘Vinicius rule’ will therefore not be applied in the same manner in La Liga and other domestic competitions, giving referees greater discretion when dealing with players who cover their mouths during on-field confrontations.