The match between Mexico and Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup witnessed a new application of what is known in the media as the "Vinicius Law," after Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie was sent off in the 90+5 minute.
The decision to expel the player came after he covered his mouth while talking to a player from the Mexican national team, an action that the referee considered to be contrary to the instructions issued by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), so he showed him the red card directly.
Hincapie is the second player to be sent off at the 2026 World Cup for this behavior, following a previous case involving Paraguay's Miguel Almiron during the group stage match against Türkiye.
FIFA had previously emphasized the prohibition of players covering their mouths while speaking on the field with opponents or referees, as part of measures aimed at curbing abusive or undisciplined behavior.
This tightening comes after previous incidents related to the use of this method to conceal phrases deemed offensive, which prompted the International Federation to intensify penalties and strictly enforce this procedure in the tournament.
The match ended with Mexico defeating Ecuador 2-0 and qualifying for the round of 16, where they await the winner of the match between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
