The upcoming decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding the contentious Sénégal-Maroc final remains highly anticipated. However, one aspect is undeniably clear: the entire episode could have been managed far more effectively, preventing the escalation to such extreme measures. This includes the controversial overturning of a match result, decided ‘on the green carpet’ several months after the final whistle had blown.

To preempt similar prolonged disputes, Fifa has introduced a series of directives during a recent congress in Vancouver. According to reports from The Times, the governing body has instructed referees to immediately issue a red card to any player who exits the field of play in protest against an official’s decision.

The same stringent sanction will apply to any member of the coaching or support staff found to be inciting players to engage in such conduct. Furthermore, should an entire team collectively abandon the pitch and retreat to the dressing room, as Sénégal controversially did, it will result in an automatic forfeiture of the match. This particular regulation is not new; it is the very rule that the CAF invoked when declaring Maroc the winner by forfeit in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Fifa also addresses the Vinicius incident with new measures

In a separate but equally significant development, Fifa has also taken decisive action in response to another high-profile incident from recent weeks: the Vinicius-Prestianni affair. The Brazilian star accused the Benfica player of directing racist remarks towards him. Ultimately, the Argentinian player was sanctioned for homophobic insults, which he subsequently admitted to uttering.

Fifa’s proposed solution? Implementing a red card penalty for players who address an opponent while covering their mouth with their hand. This innovative measure aims to facilitate lip-reading by officials and broadcast analysts, thereby helping to detect potential racist or abusive comments that might otherwise go unnoticed by opponents or referees.