Hincapie Becomes Second Player Sent Off For Covering Mouth

The 24-year-old Arsenal centre-back was shown a red card deep into stoppage time at the end of the second half after he was spotted concealing his mouth while speaking to Mexico forward Santiago Gimenez.

Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic did not initially witness the incident but, following a review by the video assistant referee, he was instructed to watch the footage on the pitchside monitor. After reviewing the exchange, Vincic produced a red card and dismissed Hincapie from the field.

The sending-off marks the second such case of the tournament, following Paraguay winger Miguel Almiron’s dismissal in the group stages. Almiron was shown a red card for a similar offence during Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkey but was spared the ignominy of a defeat as his side held on for the win despite being reduced to ten men.

The new rule, introduced by world governing body FIFA for this tournament, prohibits players from covering their mouths during confrontational exchanges with opponents. Prior to the tournament, FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, clarified that players are permitted to hide their mouths only during “friendly conversations” and that the law is specifically designed to target “confrontational” interactions. The distinction, however, has proven contentious, with referees tasked with interpreting the nature of each exchange in real time.

Last week, England midfielder Jude Bellingham escaped punishment despite covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana’s Jordan Ayew, with officials deeming the interaction non-confrontational. That decision has drawn scrutiny from pundits and fans alike, who have questioned the consistency of the rule’s application. Collina, however, has defended the officials, noting that each incident is judged on its own merits and that referees retain full discretion over whether to issue a red card.

The decision to implement the new rule was taken during a special meeting of the International Football Association Board, the sport’s law-making body, held in Vancouver in April. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously voiced support for such a punishment, suggesting that referees should operate from a “presumption” that any player covering their mouth has said “something they shouldn’t have.” The directive was intended to curb unsportsmanlike conduct and protect the integrity of the game, particularly in high-stakes international matches where verbal exchanges can escalate quickly.

The issue of players covering their mouths gained significant attention in February, when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League fixture. Prestianni was initially accused of racist abuse—allegations he vehemently denied—and received a provisional one-match ban. Following a UEFA investigation, he was instead found guilty of homophobic conduct and handed a six-match suspension, three of which were suspended.

For Hincapie, the red card compounds a bitter evening for Ecuador, whose tournament campaign came to a definitive end with the defeat to Mexico. The 2-0 loss means La Tri finish third in their group and fail to progress to the knockout rounds, a disappointing outcome for a side that had harboured ambitions of a deeper run. Hincapie, one of Ecuador’s most influential players, now faces the prospect of additional sanction should FIFA’s disciplinary committee review the incident.

The new rule continues to generate debate among players, coaches, and supporters, with some arguing it represents a necessary step to combat verbal abuse on the pitch, while others contend it places an unfair burden on referees to interpret fleeting interactions. As the tournament progresses, all players will remain acutely aware that covering their mouths in any exchange deemed confrontational carries the risk of a red card—and potentially, the end of their World Cup campaign.