Paraguayan football commentator Jorge Vera has had his World Cup 2026 credentials revoked following an extraordinary outburst after Miguel Almiron's red card, during which he turned his fury on both the referee and FIFA while live on air.
Incident During Paraguay vs. Turkey Match
Paraguay earned a 1-0 victory over Turkey in their second World Cup group stage fixture, but Almiron's sending off stole the headlines as the ex-Newcastle United star became the first player ever to be dismissed for covering his mouth during a confrontation. The rule was introduced to stop players from concealing racist, discriminatory or abusive language.
Almiron broke his silence following the win, expressing his gratitude to his team-mates and the Paraguayan federation, while commentator Jorge Vera also found himself facing disciplinary measures from FIFA. His incensed reaction during the broadcast ultimately resulted in his credentials being stripped for the remainder of the tournament.
Vera's On-Air Tirade
With Almiron having been sent off during such a pivotal match, Vera launched a scathing attack on Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton, labelling him a thief, before also rounding on FIFA president Gianni Infantino. "Thief, thief, Barton. They killed football. FIFA, you killed football. Infantino, you're responsible for this," Vera said on the broadcast.
The commentator pressed on, declaring: "FIFA, take responsibility for turning football into this. A disgrace. You should be ashamed, Infantino." He then directed his anger towards CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez. "Alejandro Domínguez, less photos with Infantino. Grow a pair. You f****** thieves!" Vera then challenged FIFA's new rule, coming to Almiron's defence in the process. "What kind of racism could Miguel Almiron possibly use against the Turkish player? Show me some common sense," he continued.
Sanction and Response
The extraordinary live commentary has cost Vera his accreditation for the remainder of the tournament, a devastating blow, particularly as Paraguay managed to secure a 1-0 victory and keep their hopes alive for the knockout stages.
However, Paraguayan broadcaster ABC Cardinal, which Vera represents, has released a detailed statement urging FIFA to reconsider its decision. ABC Cardinal argues that, given it was an isolated incident followed by an immediate apology and acknowledgement of wrongdoing, FIFA ought to take a more lenient approach.
Among the eight-point statement, they wrote: "We believe that the permanent cancellation of a credential for the entire duration of the tournament constitutes an extreme and manifestly disproportionate sanction for a primary infraction that was immediately acknowledged, for which formal apologies and concrete mechanisms for redress were offered."
"The apologies were presented, the error was admitted, and corrective measures were immediately implemented... Correcting errors is necessary. So is ensuring that sanctions are reasonable, proportionate, and compatible with basic principles of justice. No sanction should disregard a professional career based on an isolated incident that has been acknowledged and rectified. We trust that FIFA will review its decision and allow proportionality and dialogue to lead us to justice."
Vera's Apology
Following the revocation of his credentials, Vera posted a video on social media in which he apologised for losing his composure and expressed remorse over the personal attacks directed at the referee and FIFA. Vera said, via a translation: "To the public opinion. During the live transmission of the Paraguay-Turkey match, in the heat of the moment and the tension of the broadcast, I made comments that exceeded the limits.
"I used strong expressions and personal attacks against the referee and FIFA officials, which I deeply regret. I recognise that I went too far with my words. I have already sent a formal note of rectification and apologies directly to the FIFA accreditation team, acknowledging the verbal excess caused by the pressure of the live broadcast.
"I want to apologise publicly to FIFA, to the refereeing team, to my colleagues, and especially to the audience for any offence my words may have caused. It was never my intention to attack anyone personally. I got carried away in the emotion of the moment. I take full responsibility for my mistake. Thank you."
