Vancouver: FIFA has approved a 15 percent increase in financial allocations for nations taking part in this year's expanded World Cup, raising the total prize fund to $871 million, the governing body announced after a Council meeting in Vancouver. The money will be split between tournament preparation, qualifiers, team delegation costs, and ticket allocations.

According to Oman News Agency, in February, the PA Media news agency reported that European associations were concerned about potential financial losses from participating in the tournament. FIFA had already approved a record $727 million in prize money in December, including $50 million for the winners.

The Council also decided to scrap yellow cards after the group stage and again after the quarter-finals. Without the change, the new 48-team format-which adds a round of 32 and increases the number of matches for teams reaching the later stages-could have led to more suspensions from accumulated bookings, as two yellow cards result in a ban.

It was also unanimously agreed that any player who covers their mouth during a confrontation with an opponent may be shown a red card. The same punishment can be applied to any player who leaves the pitch in protest at a referee's decision, or to any team official who incites players to leave the field.