The English player was involved in a similar action that cost the Paraguayan a red card against Turkey, but the referee decided not to penalize him
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The draw between England and Ghana in the 2026 World Cup left much more than an unexpected result. While the main news was that Thomas Tuchel's team could not get past 0-0 against an African side that defended well and took advantage of the speed of its attackers to complicate one of the title contenders, the result quickly took a back seat to an action involving Jude Bellingham.
During the match held in Boston, cameras captured the English midfielder covering his mouth while having an exchange with Jordan Ayew. The image quickly went viral and reignited the debate over the application of one of the most discussed rules recently implemented by FIFA: the "Prestianni Law".
The controversy arose because days earlier the ParaguayanMiguel Almirón had been sent off with a direct red card in the match between Paraguay and Turkey for an action considered similar. On that occasion, the player became the first to be sanctioned under the regulation that penalizes conversations with opponents made while covering the mouth to avoid being caught by cameras with a direct expulsion.
Despite the visual similarities between both episodes, Honduran referee Said Martínez decided not to sanction Bellingham. According to his interpretation, the conversation did not show signs of offensive conduct nor justified a disciplinary measure. The current regulation precisely contemplates that margin of analysis, as it does not automatically require punishing the gesture, but also considers the context and the intention of the protagonists.
This resolution generated discomfort in the Paraguayan National Team, which through the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) filed a formal protest with FIFA, considering that the rule should be applied with the same criteria for all teams. The entity understands that similar situations received different sanctions and questions the consistency of the refereeing decisions.
The APF wants the same criteria to be used to sanction the "Prestianni Law"
In light of the controversy, the international body confirmed that it received the complaint and will analyze the incidents mentioned. The organization will review both Almirón's expulsion and the action involving Bellingham to assess whether there were justified differences in the referees' interpretations.
Meanwhile, the debate remains open. For some, both plays deserved the same disciplinary treatment. For others, the key is that the rule does not only penalize the act of covering the mouth, but the content and nature of the interaction between the players. What is certain is that the action of the English midfielder has once again put under scrutiny a regulation that is already generating discussion during the ongoing World Cup.
