Paraguay's Miguel Almiron has become the first player to receive a red card under football's new regulation prohibiting players from covering their mouths while speaking to an opponent. The incident occurred during a FIFA World Cup group-stage match against Turkey in San Francisco.
Incident Details
The event unfolded just before half-time, with Paraguay leading 1-0. Almiron, 32, was seen covering his mouth with his hand while conversing with Turkey defender Mert Muldur. Muldur promptly alerted a nearby match official. Following a review by the video assistant referee (VAR), referee Ivan Barton of El Salvador announced to the crowd that Almiron was being sent off.
New Regulation Enforcement
The World Cup marks the first major tournament where this new regulation is being enforced. The rule was approved during a special meeting of the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in Vancouver in April. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously supported the move, suggesting that referees should operate under a "presumption" that players have said "something they shouldn't have" when they deliberately cover their mouths during on-field conversations. However, the final decision rests with the referee, who is expected to evaluate the circumstances of each incident before determining whether a red card is warranted.
Background and Precedent
The issue of players covering their mouths gained attention earlier this year during a UEFA Champions League match involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Vinicius and was later accused of racist abuse, an allegation he denied. After a UEFA investigation, Prestianni was found guilty of homophobic conduct rather than racist abuse and received a six-match suspension, with three matches suspended.
This is not the first time Almiron has been affected by a newly introduced law at this World Cup. During Paraguay's opening group-stage match against the United States, the referee initially booked US defender Tim Ream for a foul on Almiron. However, following a VAR review, officials concluded that Almiron had simulated the incident, and the yellow card was instead shown to the Paraguayan player.
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