Paraguay winger Miguel Almiron made World Cup history on Tuesday after becoming the first player to be sent off under football’s newly introduced rule banning players from covering their mouths while speaking to opponents.
The controversial incident occurred during Paraguay’s Group Stage clash against Turkey in San Francisco, where Almiron was shown a straight red card following an exchange with Turkish defender Mert Muldur.
VAR Review Leads to Historic Dismissal
The incident took place shortly before half-time with Paraguay holding a 1-0 lead. Television replays appeared to show Almiron placing his hand over his mouth while speaking to Muldur, who immediately drew the referee’s attention to the exchange.
Following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), match official Ivan Barton of El Salvador was advised to reassess the incident. After consulting the footage, Barton issued a straight red card to the former Newcastle United star, making Almiron the first player to be dismissed under the new regulation at a FIFA World Cup.
Despite being reduced to 10 men for the entire second half, Paraguay successfully defended their advantage and secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Turkey.
New Rule Debuts at the 2026 World Cup
The mouth-covering regulation was approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) during a special meeting in Vancouver in April. The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first major tournament where the law is being actively enforced.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously voiced support for the measure, arguing that players who conceal their mouths while speaking could be attempting to hide inappropriate or abusive comments from officials, cameras, and disciplinary authorities.
While the rule allows referees to issue a red card, officials are expected to assess each incident individually before determining the appropriate punishment.
Earlier Controversies Influenced the Decision
Debate surrounding mouth-covering incidents intensified earlier this year following a Champions League match involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr.
Prestianni was initially accused of racist abuse after speaking to Vinicius while covering his mouth. Although those allegations were later dismissed, a UEFA investigation ultimately resulted in the Argentine receiving a six-match suspension for homophobic conduct.
The case became one of several high-profile incidents that contributed to calls for greater transparency in on-field interactions.
Almiron Again at the Centre of New Regulations
Interestingly, this is not the first time Almiron has found himself caught up in football’s latest rule changes during this tournament.
In Paraguay’s opening match against the United States, a VAR review overturned a foul decision in his favour and instead resulted in the winger being booked for simulation.
Now, after becoming the first player sent off under the mouth-covering rule, Almiron has once again found himself at the centre of World Cup controversy.
Paraguay can still secure qualification for the knockout stages when they face Australia in their final Group Stage match on Friday.
