Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie was ejected from Tuesday’s match against Mexico, becoming the second athlete at the 2026 World Cup to face a red card for shielding his mouth while addressing an opponent. The 24-year-old player was captured on video concealing his speech during stoppage time while his team trailed 2-0.
Referee Slavko Vincic initially missed the moment but issued the dismissal after a VAR consultation at the pitchside monitor. Hincapie is the second player penalized under this new regulation, following Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron, who was sent off against Turkey earlier in the tournament. These rules, established by the International Football Association Board in April, aim to penalize confrontational exchanges while allowing for casual dialogue. Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s head of referees, noted that officials retain discretion when applying the rule, as demonstrated by the decision not to penalize England’s Jude Bellingham for a similar gesture toward Jordan Ayew.
