Miguel Almirón became the first player to be dismissed for covering his mouth while speaking during an on‑field confrontation in Paraguay’s Group D match against Türkiye at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The red card was shown in the third minute of added time in the first half after Almirón covered his mouth and appeared to address Türkiye defender Mert Muldur. A brief VAR review by Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton confirmed the infraction, and the referee issued the dismissal.
The decision follows a new IFAB regulation stating that any player who covers his mouth in a confrontational situation may be penalized with a red card. The rule was introduced to prevent concealed racist or abusive remarks, after a controversial incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in the 2025‑26 UEFA Champions League.
Under the regulation, covering the mouth is permissible in friendly exchanges, but becomes a red‑card offense the moment a confrontation arises.
This marks Paraguay’s third red card in World Cup history, joining the 2002 dismissals of Carlos Paredes and Roberto Acuña. It is also the seventh red card of the 2026 tournament, the highest total since 2014.
Earlier in the match, Matías Galarza scored the tournament’s fastest goal, striking from distance at 1:05 on the clock. His goal proved decisive as ten‑men Paraguay held on for a 1‑0 victory, eliminating Türkiye from knockout‑stage contention.
ESPN’s Global Research Team contributed to this report.
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