Socceroos midfielder Jackson Irvine has expressed full support for FIFA's controversial new rule that penalizes players for covering their mouths when speaking, following Paraguay winger Miguel Almirón's historic red card against Turkey. The rule, introduced for the 2026 World Cup, aims to curb the trend of footballers hiding their speech to avoid detection of offensive comments.
Almirón's Red Card and the New Rule
Almirón became the first player sent off under the regulation during Paraguay's group stage match. The red card means he will be suspended for the crucial final Group D clash against Australia, a significant boost for the Socceroos. Irvine, a member of Fifpro's global player council, emphasized that players were given fair warning about the rule before the tournament.
"I know it's going to be controversial in some ways because we don't know the nature of what the comment was, but when you look at what's happened in the past, especially around what happened with Vinícius Júnior, I think it takes everything out of the equation," Irvine said.
Background and Justification
The highest-profile example of mouth-covering misconduct occurred earlier this year when Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni made homophobic comments to Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior while covering his mouth with his shirt. The referee did not send Prestianni off during the Champions League match, and video evidence could not be used to assess the incident. However, he was subsequently banned for six matches. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which governs the laws of the game, approved the introduction of a red card for such conduct in April 2026.
Irvine stated that Almirón has no grounds for complaint. "If you're saying something to someone that you don't want to be seen, then I think it's safe to say that if you can't be seen saying it, then it shouldn't be said. For me, it's a clear line on the rule, and we were all told about it, so it is what it is," he added.
Upcoming Clash: Australia vs Paraguay
The Socceroos face Paraguay at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Thursday (Friday AEST) in a decisive Group D match. Both teams are vying for second place behind group leaders. A loss for either side would leave them anxiously waiting to see if they advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups.
Despite Almirón's absence, Paraguay enters the match with momentum after a 1-0 victory over Turkey. They need to defeat Australia to leapfrog into second place. Irvine acknowledged the challenge, noting that Australia has never beaten a South American side at a World Cup. He described Paraguay's style as "physical, skilful, and unpredictable," citing a late-game sequence against Turkey where they continued attacking with 10 men while leading 1-0. "Expect the unexpected. I guess that's probably the best way to put it," he said.
Socceroos' Strategy and Improvements
Irvine stressed the need for a better start compared to their previous match against the USA. "The main thing that we have to get better from the first half is just being able to come into the duels and arrive – in the physical side of the game – a little bit better, and ride through those difficult moments," he explained. "We're playing against top teams at the highest level, but they're going to have moments where you're going to have to defend and we're going to have to suffer and you've got to find ways to get through that."
