Almirón sees first World Cup red card for covering mouth

June 20, 2026 / 10:53 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón has reportedly become the first player in FIFA World Cup history to be sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent. The incident occurred just before half-time during Paraguay’s group-stage match against Turkey in San Francisco.

VAR review leads to dismissal

With Paraguay leading 1–0, Almirón approached Turkish defender Mert Müldür and briefly spoke while covering his mouth. After a complaint from Müldür, referee Iván Bartón reviewed the incident using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system before issuing a straight red card.

FIFA crackdown on on-field conduct

The dismissal comes amid FIFA’s recent regulatory tightening, which states that players may face disciplinary action for covering their mouths during confrontations due to concerns over concealed misconduct or discriminatory remarks.

Previous European football controversy

The rule update follows a similar incident in a Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid, which led to disciplinary consequences after concerns were raised over potentially discriminatory behaviour during an on-field exchange.