Hand in front of the mouth: UEFA creates automatic red card

UEFA is ending its strict line against players covering their mouths during heated discussions and abolishing the automatic red card for the gesture. Instead of a blanket punishment, in the future the referees will decide on the intention behind the hand signal depending on the situation. The European association is revising a practice that caused dissatisfaction in the past because it often punished tactical agreements or emotional reactions excessively harshly.

The new policy explicitly grants referees the power to assess the context, rather than stubbornly judging according to a rigid rulebook that had no exceptions. This adjustment is a direct response to criticism that the previous interpretation did not do justice to the realities of a top game. Previously, professionals in competitions such as the Champions League risked being sent off immediately if they covered their lips while talking to an opponent or the official.