- What exactly is the new rule, ``insulting by covering one's mouth''?
- Refers to the act of insulting opposing players or referees by covering the mouth with a hand or arm. In this case, the referee ruled that Ecuadorian defender Piero Incapie insulted a Mexican player by covering his mouth. This is a new rule established at the same tournament, and this is the second time it has been applied.
- What impact did this sending off have on the flow of the game?
- After Piero Incapie was sent off in the 25th minute of the second half, Ecuador lost the game to Mexico, scoring two points in the 37th minute of the second half and in additional time of the second half, losing 2-0. They missed out on advancing to the round of 16. The sending off was a deciding factor in the flow of the match.
- What did the FIFA Referees Committee comment on this decision?
- The FIFA Referees Committee said, ``The gesture of covering the mouth was judged to be a clear insult.'' He emphasized that the standards for applying the new rules are consistent. This is the second time this tournament has been used, demonstrating the strict enforcement of the rules.
- How did the Ecuadorian national team coach react to the decision?
- Ecuador national team coach Félix Sangoy expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, ``The decision was too harsh. It changed the flow of the game.'' The actions of the players while dealing with the loss caused controversy. He expressed the view that this influenced the team's handling of the loss.
- How many times has there been an ejection due to the new rules being applied in this tournament?
- This case is the second such case at this tournament. The previous day's Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia, Croatian national team midfielder Marcelo Brozovic was sent off for similar behavior. After the new rules were applied, there were a number of consecutive ejections.
- How may the standards for applying the new rules change in the future?
- No clear changes have been announced at this time, but FIFA is expected to hold repeated discussions with the referees based on the actual operation of this tournament. There is a possibility that the interpretation of the rules will be made clearer based on feedback from players and teams.
