Miguel Almiron has etched his name in World Cup history for an unintended reason: he became the first player to receive a red card for covering his mouth during a match. The incident occurred in Paraguay's World Cup 2026 clash against Turkey, where the former Newcastle United midfielder was shown a straight red card after a VAR review.
The Incident
Almiron was exchanging words with Turkey's Mert Muldur when he used his hands to conceal what he was saying. The referee, after consulting VAR, deemed that Almiron had violated FIFA's new mouth-covering rule, which was introduced to combat discriminatory or inappropriate conduct on the pitch.
VAR Review and Aftermath
The dismissal took place in the second minute of added time, sparking a brief altercation between the players. Tensions had been running high throughout the match, and the half-time whistle saw players and staff clash on the pitch before heading to the dressing rooms. Almiron now faces a suspension for Paraguay's final group stage fixture against Australia.
The New Rule
The mouth-covering rule was ratified at a special meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in late April. FIFA adopted the amendment for the 2026 World Cup to prevent players from hiding discriminatory language. According to IFAB, the offence is described as "players covering their mouths in situations of confrontation with opponents," and at the discretion of the competition organiser, it can result in a red card.
Background to the Rule Change
The rule change was prompted by an incident involving Gianluca Prestianni, who lifted his shirt while allegedly racially abusing Vinicius Junior. Although he denied the racial abuse, he was sanctioned for homophobic conduct and handed a six-match ban by UEFA. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously stated that covering the mouth to hide racist comments would warrant a red card.
FIFA's Stance
Infantino announced the decision on Instagram, saying: "We unanimously agreed that at the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card." He added that these amendments would be implemented at the World Cup 2026 and other competitions could decide to adopt them before they enter into force on 1 July 2026.
