Miguel Almiron has broken his silence after becoming the first player in World Cup history to be sent off for covering his mouth under a new FIFA regulation. The former Newcastle United star, now 32, was dismissed during the first half of Paraguay's 1-0 victory over Turkey.
Almiron's Tribute to Teammates
In a post on his Instagram story, Almiron shared an image of his teammates celebrating and wrote a message that roughly translates to: "I want to thank the effort of my teammates today leaving everything in each ball, thank you thank you thank you a pride to be part of this selection."
New FIFA Rule
Ahead of the World Cup, FIFA introduced a regulation that any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may now be sanctioned with a red card. This rule change came in light of controversy surrounding Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game in February.
The Incident
Almiron made the gesture during a confrontation in first-half stoppage time with Turkey's Mert Muldur. This resulted in his historic dismissal, marking the first time the new rule has been applied in a World Cup match.
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