Almiron becomes first player sent off under new World Cup mouth-covering rule

Miguel Almiron made World Cup history on Tuesday after becoming the first player to be sent off under football’s newly introduced rule prohibiting players from covering their mouths while speaking to opponents.

The Paraguay winger was shown a straight red card during his country’s Group stage clash against Turkey in San Francisco after an incident involving defender Mert Muldur.

VAR intervenes after incident with Turkey defender

The controversial moment occurred shortly before half-time with Paraguay leading 1-0. Almiron was seen covering his mouth with his hand while speaking to Muldur, who immediately alerted the referee.

Following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), referee Ivan Barton of El Salvador announced the decision to dismiss the former Newcastle United player, marking the first use of the law at a FIFA World Cup.

Despite playing the entire second half with 10 men, Paraguay held on to secure a 1-0 victory over Turkey.

New law introduced before tournament

The regulation was approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) during a special meeting in Vancouver in April and is being enforced for the first time at the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously backed the measure, arguing that referees should operate from a presumption that players may be attempting to conceal inappropriate comments when covering their mouths.

However, officials still retain discretion and are expected to assess each situation individually before issuing a red card.

Previous controversy raised concerns

The issue gained prominence earlier this year when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth while speaking to Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match.

Although initially accused of racist abuse, Prestianni later received a six-match ban for homophobic conduct following a UEFA investigation.

Almiron had already found himself at the centre of another new law during Paraguay’s opening match against the United States, when a VAR review overturned a foul decision in his favour and resulted in the winger being booked for simulation.

Paraguay will secure a place in the knockout stage if they defeat Australia in their final group match on Friday.