Hincapié covers his mouth, gets a straight red and becomes the second player sent off under the 'Vini Jr. rule' at the World Cup
Ecuador's defender covered his mouth during an argument with Giménez and was shown a straight red card. Mexico win 2–0 and advance to the round of 16.
The "Vini Jr. rule" has claimed another victim at the World Cup. Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié was sent off with a straight red card in stoppage time of Ecuador's 2–0 defeat to Mexico at the Estadio Azteca — and the reason was exactly the same one that gives the rule its name: covering his mouth to say something during an argument.
The target of Hincapié's words was Mexico's Santiago Giménez. It was Giménez himself who alerted referee Slavko Vincic to the gesture. Vincic was called by VAR, reviewed the incident and had no hesitation: red card.
With the victory, Mexico secured their place in the round of 16. Golmetria's model gives the Mexicans a 31.77% chance of reaching the quarter-finals — a reasonable figure for a side playing at home and dreaming of going beyond the fifth game for the first time.
Hincapié is the second player to be sent off under the rule at this World Cup. Before him, Paraguay's Miguel Almirón had received a red card for the same reason, in a group-stage match against Turkey. The rule, debated at the last IFAB meeting following an incident involving Vini Jr. and Prestianni in a game between Real Madrid and an opponent, only applies when the gesture occurs within the context of an argument — which explains why Bellingham was not punished for a similar moment during England 0–0 Ghana, as that situation was not classified as a conflict or provocation.
The message is clear: covering your mouth has become a match-day risk. And the World Cup has barely even started.