Ecuador's World Cup run ended in the Round of 32 last night, as Mexico won 2-0 in front of an electric Mexico City crowd. It was a heated affair throughout, and especially in the closing minutes as Ecuador began to accept its fate.
During stoppage time, Piero Hincapie got chippy with Santiago Gimenez and decided to say something to him with his palm covering his mouth. Gimenez, who wasn't even looking back at Hincapie, immediately reacted to Hincapie's comment and asked the referee to take a look on the VAR monitor.
The referee, Slavko Vincic, checked the footage and returned with a red card for Hincapie. Here's how they got there.
Because of a new rule implemented by the International Football ****** ociation Board back in April. It prohibits players from covering their mouths during confrontations. This is the second time we've seen this rule upheld in the World Cup.
The IFAB added the rule after Brazil's Vinicius Junior alleged Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him with his mouth covered during a UEFA Champions League match in February. Prestianni was later suspended for six matches.