Miguel Almiron Receives First Red Card Under FIFA's New Mouth-Covering Rule at 2026 World Cup
During the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Paraguay and Turkey, Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player to receive a direct red card under FIFA's new rule penalizing players who cover their mouths during confrontations. The incident occurred after a verbal exchange with Turkey's Mert Muldur, prompting a VAR review and dismissal by referee Ivan Barton. The rule, introduced to deter abusive or discriminatory language, was inspired by a prior UEFA Champions League case involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior. Paraguay continued with ten men but maintained their 1-0 lead to win the match.