SANTA CLARA: Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron made unwanted World Cup history on Friday after becoming the first player to be sent off under FIFA’s newly introduced “mouth-covering” regulation during his side’s 1-0 victory over Turkiye.
The incident occurred in first-half stoppage time following a heated confrontation between players in midfield. Almiron was seen covering his mouth with his hand while directing comments towards Turkish right-back Mert Müldür, who immediately brought the matter to the attention of match officials.
After a brief Video Assistant Referee review, Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton issued a straight red card in the third minute of added time, reducing Paraguay to 10 men just before the interval.
The controversial dismissal came under FIFA’s strict new regulation, introduced ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The law, approved by the International Football Association Board, states that any player who deliberately covers their mouth while involved in a confrontational on-field situation can face automatic dismissal.
The measure was introduced as part of football’s ongoing efforts to combat discriminatory, racist and homophobic abuse, which has often been concealed from cameras and lip-readers.
Tensions remained high throughout the second half, with Turkiye manager Vincenzo Montella and Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro both shown yellow cards after failing to control their benches during a 79th-minute confrontation.
