The football world awaits the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport’s (CAS) verdict on the contentious Senegal-Morocco final. However, one undeniable fact remains: the entire controversy could have been handled with greater efficiency, preventing the extraordinary situation of a match result being overturned ‘on paper’ months after the final whistle.

To preempt similar prolonged disputes, FIFA has reportedly issued new guidelines during a recent congress in Vancouver. According to The Times, the governing body has instructed referees to immediately issue a red card to any player who exits the field of play to protest an official’s decision.

This stringent sanction will also extend to any coaching staff member found inciting players to engage in such conduct. Furthermore, should an entire team collectively abandon the pitch and retreat to the changing rooms, as was the case with Senegal, it will automatically result in a forfeited match. This particular regulation is not new; it was the very rule that the CAF invoked to award Morocco victory via a forfeit in the African Cup of Nations final.

fifa’s response to rising player conduct issues

In a separate but equally significant development, FIFA has also taken action following another recent incident: the Vinicius-Prestianni affair. Brazilian star Vinicius accused the Benfica player of directing racist slurs towards him. Prestianni, an Argentinian player, subsequently admitted to making homophobic insults and faced disciplinary action.

FIFA’s proposed solution? To penalize players with a red card if they address an opponent while covering their mouth with their hand. This measure aims to facilitate lip-reading, thereby making it easier to identify and address any potential racist remarks that might otherwise go unnoticed by opponents or officials.