Miguel Almiron Makes Unwanted World Cup History With First-Ever Red Card For Mouth-Covering | WATCH

Last Updated:June 20, 2026, 09:49 IST

Almiron became the first player sent off under FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule as Paraguay’s World Cup clash with Turkey descended into chaos.

Miguel Almiron entered the record books on Friday night, but not for the reasons Paraguay would have wanted.

The experienced midfielder became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to be sent off under the tournament’s newly introduced mouth-covering rule during Paraguay’s heated Group D clash against Turkey.

The bizarre incident unfolded deep into first-half stoppage time. As tensions flared between players from both sides, Almiron briefly covered his mouth while speaking to Turkey defender Mert Muldur. The Turkish players immediately alerted referee Iván Barton, prompting a VAR review.

After checking the footage, the official produced a straight red card, reducing Paraguay to 10 men in one of the most unusual dismissals the World Cup has ever seen.

FIFA’s New Rule Takes Centre Stage

The regulation was introduced ahead of the 2026 World Cup as part of FIFA’s efforts to combat abusive or discriminatory language on the pitch.

The rule emerged after a Champions League incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior. Prestianni was later banned by UEFA after admitting to making homophobic comments while speaking with his mouth covered, making it difficult for officials to assess what had been said.

In response, FIFA granted referees the authority to issue red cards when players cover their mouths during confrontational exchanges.

Friday’s incident marked the first time the rule has directly resulted in a dismissal at a World Cup.

Galarza’s Dream Start

The drama overshadowed what had been an impressive first half for Paraguay.

Matías Galarza gave his side the perfect start, firing home after just 65 seconds — the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup so far. The midfielder punished a Turkish defensive error with a superb low strike from distance that beat goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.

Turkey pushed hard for an equaliser and came agonisingly close before the break when Muldur’s header struck both the crossbar and the post.

The final minutes of the half were dominated by confrontations, VAR checks and mounting frustration. Almiron’s dismissal left Paraguay clinging to their 1-0 lead while Turkey looked to exploit the numerical advantage.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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