Miguel Borja covers mouth again during Chivas Clásico clash

Club América striker Miguel Borja was involved in another controversial moment after covering his mouth during a heated altercation with Chivas player Ángel Sepúlveda. The incident took place during a friendly match between the two sides in Oakland, California.

The gesture drew attention due to the new IFAB modifications effective for the 2026-27 season. Under Rule 12, players can be sent off for covering their mouths while communicating with opponents in a provocative or aggressive manner, provided the specific competition has opted to implement the measure.

This is not the first time Borja has performed this gesture in a Clásico Nacional. A similar situation occurred in September against Raúl Rangel, and like the recent friendly, the referee did not issue a red card to the Colombian forward.

The regulation aims to prevent players from hiding discriminatory or offensive language during confrontations. However, its application remains at the discretion of competition organizers, meaning the gesture does not trigger an automatic expulsion. The match ended in a 2-0 victory for Chivas, thanks to a brace from Ángel Sepúlveda.