First Red Card for Covering Mouth: Almiron's Uncertain World Cup Future
Al Jazeera English
Miguel Almiron of Paraguay became the first player sent off at the 2026 World Cup for covering his mouth during an on-field dispute, violating a new FIFA rule. The suspension means he will miss his team's decisive final group match against Australia, though Paraguay won the match against Turkey 1-0.
It remains unclear what Miguel Almiron of Paraguay said to Turkey's Mert Muldur while covering his mouth, but that gesture may prove to be his last at this World Cup.
On Friday (June 20, 2026), Almiron became the first player in World Cup history to be sent off for violating a new regulation prohibiting players from covering their mouths during on-field arguments. The decision left Paraguay a man down as Turkey launched a relentless second-half attack.
The rule, proposed by FIFA and approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in April, followed an incident in which Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni was accused of using homophobic slurs against Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr while covering his mouth with his shirt during a Champions League match. Prestianni was subsequently suspended for six matches for alleged discriminatory behavior.
In a tense match marked by verbal clashes, Almiron's first-half red card was overshadowed by Paraguay's 1-0 victory at the San Francisco Bay Area stadium, reigniting the South American team's survival hopes and eliminating Turkey from the tournament.
The suspension means Almiron will miss the decisive Group D finale against Australia on June 22.
On Instagram, Almiron posted a photo of his teammates celebrating the win but made no mention of the red card. “I want to thank my teammates for their effort, giving everything in every play. Thank you, I am proud to be part of this team,” he wrote.
England defender Dan Burn, a former teammate of Almiron at Newcastle, commented: “I know Miggy well. I think it's a habit of his. I've seen him do it for years. It will take time for some players to change that habit. The referee talked about this in the pre-World Cup meeting, so everyone knew the rule. There was no great surprise, but clearly it's a tough habit to break.”
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro, who praised his players' fighting spirit, said he accepted the rule as applied. “The first thing I told Miggy when he came into the dressing room was: 'Change that face—we won, don't feel guilty. What happened only made your teammates' spirit stronger,'” Alfaro recounted.
He added: “He was devastated because he felt that with his experience, things like that shouldn't happen. But it happened. We are here to support, lift and push him forward.”
The new rule includes exceptions, such as allowing players to cover their mouths during friendly chats with club teammates from the opposing side. It is one of several changes implemented before this year's World Cup, including a five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks, limits on the time substituted players can leave the field, and a requirement that players remain off the pitch for one minute after receiving on-field medical treatment.
Alfaro fears some new rules could harm football and argued that a yellow card for Almiron would have been sufficient. “My fear is that football loses its essence. Don't become a slave to the rules,” he said.
