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The Real Madrid star sparked controversy with his strike in the Ghana match
A photo of Jude Bellingham with his hand over his mouth during his country England’s goalless draw against Ghana yesterday, Tuesday, has sparked widespread controversy at the 2026 World Cup.
The England midfielder has faced several tense situations with the Ghanaian players and coaching staff, but one of his actions has sparked debate over the application of one of the most controversial rules set by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).
During the meeting in Boston, the cameras recorded how the player of “Real Madrid” covers his mouth while exchanging words with the striker of the Ghana national team, Jordan Ayew, reports the newspaper. Mundo Deportivo.
This move was reminiscent of the punishment a few days ago that was imposed on Miguel Almiron, who was sent off with a straight red card for a similar act in the Paraguay-Turkey match.
The difference in standards has not been well received in Paraguay, and according to local media, the Paraguayan Football Federation intends to file a formal complaint with FIFA, arguing that the new regulation does not apply equally to all teams.
On 20 June, Almiron became the first player in World Cup history to be sent off for breaking the rule that prohibits players from covering their mouths when addressing an opponent.
The measure, known as the Vinicius Law, aims to prevent potential abuse or discriminatory remarks from being caught by cameras and video assistant referee (VAR) systems.
It should be noted that the rules state that if a player closes his mouth to verbally insult an opponent, the referee must send him off with a red card.
The rule came to light after the recent incident between Benfica’s Gianluca Pristiani and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior in the Champions League, which led to the activation of the Anti-Racism Protocol and a heated debate about the need for stricter controls on such situations, eventually leading to what is known as the “V LawV”.
