Ecuador’s World Cup run ended with more than a loss, as Piero Hincapié became the second player sent off under FIFA’s new rule against covering the mouth during a confrontation.
The defender was shown red in the 95th minute of Ecuador’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in the round of 32 after an exchange with Mexico forward Santi Giménez. The decision underlined how FIFA is enforcing the rule to stop players from hiding abusive comments from opponents.
How the rule changed the match
FIFA introduced the measure to discourage players from covering their mouths while speaking during heated moments. In this case, the action was enough to draw a sending-off and leave Ecuador’s defeat with an unusual disciplinary note.
| Player | Team | What Happened | Match Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piero Hincapié | Ecuador | Sent off for covering his mouth during a confrontation | 95th minute of a 2-0 loss to Mexico in the round of 32 |
| Miguel Almirón | Paraguay | First player punished under the same rule | Sent off in a group stage match against Turkey last week |
Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón was the first player punished under the same rule, showing that FIFA has already applied it more than once at the tournament. apnews.com reported that Hincapié’s red card came after his exchange with Giménez late in the match.
Ecuador’s tournament is now over, and Hincapié will be suspended for the team’s next international match. The incident leaves a clear example of how strictly the new rule can be applied when players try to mask what they are saying on the field.