Historic Red Card Issued for Mouth Covering
In a notable incident during a World Cup group stage match in San Francisco, Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became the first player to be ejected for covering his mouth while communicating with an opposing player. The event unfolded just before halftime in the game against Turkey, with Paraguay holding a 1-0 lead.
The Incident and Rule Enforcement
The 32-year-old former Newcastle United winger obscured his mouth with his hand as he spoke to Turkey's Mert Muldur. Muldur promptly alerted a nearby official to the action. Following a review by the video assistant referee (VAR), Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton announced to the stadium that Almiron was being shown a red card.
This new regulation, which penalizes players for intentionally covering their mouths during interactions, is being implemented for the first time at the current World Cup. The International Football Association Board (Ifab) approved the rule change during a special meeting held in Vancouver in April.
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator and former Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison remarked on the decision, stating, "If you know the rules, you shouldn't do it. You've got to credit the referee and the VAR for making that decision. Not everyone would agree with it, but if those are the rules, you've got to stick by the rules."
Background to the New Regulation
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously expressed support for such a punishment, suggesting that referees should operate with a "presumption" that players covering their mouths might be uttering "something they shouldn't have." The application of this rule remains at the discretion of the referee, who is expected to consider all circumstances before issuing a red card.
The issue gained prominence earlier in the year when Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racist abuse, which he denied, after covering his mouth while speaking to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match. Although initially banned for one match, a UEFA investigation ultimately found Prestianni guilty of homophobic conduct, leading to a six-match ban, with three matches suspended.
Previous Rule Infraction for Almiron
This red card marks Almiron's second encounter with a new football regulation during the current World Cup. In Paraguay's opening match against the United States, Almiron was initially awarded a free-kick after US defender Tim Ream was booked for a foul. However, a VAR review subsequently determined that Almiron had dived, resulting in the yellow card being reversed and instead issued to him for simulation.