After the ‘Vinicius Law’, another FIFA rule that UEFA does not intend to apply

Yesterday we told MD that the UEFA It has no intention of applying the so-called ‘Vinicius Law’ in its competitions because it considers that sending off a player for covering his mouth when addressing an opponent violates his rights. But it is not the only standard approved by FIFA which he has no intention of applying once the World Cup ends.

As stated in a circular to which MD has had access, it will not implement expulsion when a player leaves the field in protest, as happened in the final of the Africa Cup when the Senegal players decided to leave the field due to an arbitration decision. In this case, the penalty awarded by the referee in favor of Morocco.

According to the same circular: “Players leaving the field of play in protest: UEFA will NOT exercise the option provided for in the recent modification of the Laws of the Game to consider such conduct, in itself, as an offense punishable with a red card“.

He also adds, regarding the abandonment of several players and the team being left with less than seven players: “However, we would like to underline the principle now included in the Laws of the Game according to which “…where a team is responsible for a match not continuing and/or is suspended due to having fewer than seven players, that team will lose the match by default, subject to the regulations of the relevant competition” (see IFAB Circular No. 33, May 19, 2026). This principle, in a broader sense, which is not limited to the number of players available, is reflected in all UEFA competition regulations.“.

What it does plan to apply is the option of being able to review a corner kick that was initially awarded incorrectly from the VAR: “UEFA will exercise the option to implement the change in protocol, according to which corner kicks awarded in a clearly erroneous manner may be reviewed by the VAR, provided that the decision can be corrected immediately and without delaying the resumption of play“.