According to a report by Mirror on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Arsenal defender Piero Hincapié has become the second player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to receive a red card under the tournament’s new rule against covering the mouth while speaking during a confrontation.
The Ecuador centre back was dismissed during his side’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico in their Round of 32 clash at the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday, as Ecuador’s World Cup campaign came to an end.
The incident occurred deep into stoppage time when Hincapié approached Mexico striker Santiago Giménez during a heated exchange. Television replays showed the Arsenal defender appearing to cover his mouth with his hand while speaking to the forward.
Giménez immediately alerted referee Slavko Vinčić, who reviewed the incident on the pitchside VAR monitor. Following a brief check, the referee produced a straight red card, making Hincapié only the second player to be sent off under the competition’s newly enforced regulation.
The dismissal capped a frustrating evening for Ecuador, who were already trailing after goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez secured Mexico’s passage to the last 16 with a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Mexico will now face either England or DR Congo in the next round as they continue their bid for World Cup glory.
Hincapié joins former Newcastle United F.C. midfielder Miguel Almirón as the only players sent off for the offence at this year’s tournament. Almirón became the first player dismissed under the rule during Paraguay’s group-stage victory over Turkiye.
The latest incident highlights FIFA’s strict enforcement of the regulation, with match officials using VAR to review potential violations before issuing disciplinary action.
