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- Bellingham Generates Controversy by Covering His Mouth but Avoiding a Sanction in the World Cup Due to the Vinicius Law
Bellingham Generates Controversy by Covering His Mouth but Avoiding a Sanction in the World Cup Due to the Vinicius Law
The English gesture against Ghana reignited the debate over the "Vinicius Law," following Almirón's expulsion for the same action.
Bellingham covers his mouth
The controversy over Jude Bellingham in the match between England and Ghana has once again put the "Vinicius Law" under scrutiny. The Real Madrid midfielder was caught on camera covering his mouth while arguing with Jordan Ayew, a gesture that immediately recalled Miguel Almirón's expulsion days earlier against Turkey for the same action.
The appeal of Paraguay
The difference in criteria caused discomfort in Paraguay, whose federation, according to various media, filed a formal protest with FIFA over the Almirón case, as he was the first player expelled in a World Cup for covering his mouth when addressing an opponent, in compliance with the new regulations.
The origin of the Vinicius Law
The rule, prompted by an incident in the Champions League involving Vinicius Junior, aims to prevent insults or discriminatory expressions from going unnoticed by cameras and review systems. The regulation states that the referee must show a red card if a footballer covers their mouth to verbally confront another. In Boston, however, Bellingham did not receive a sanction, which opened a debate about the uneven application of the rule.
