San Francisco, Jun 20 (V7N) – Paraguay captain Miguel Almirón became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to be sent off under the tournament's new face-covering rule, but his team still secured a 1-0 victory over Turkey in their Group Stage clash on Saturday.
The incident occurred shortly before half-time in San Francisco, with Paraguay leading 1-0.
Almirón, 32, was seen covering his mouth with his hand while speaking to Turkey defender Mert Müldür during an exchange on the pitch. Müldür immediately alerted the match officials, prompting a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
After reviewing the footage, referee Evan Burton issued a straight red card to the Paraguayan midfielder, reducing his side to 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Paraguay defended resolutely to preserve their 1-0 lead and claim all three points. The victory leaves them needing only a win over Australia in their final group-stage match to book a place in the Round of 32.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison said players must adapt to the updated regulations.
"If you know the rules, you shouldn't do those things. People may not agree with the decision, but if that's the rule, you have to follow it."
The face-covering regulation is being enforced for the first time at this World Cup after receiving approval during a special meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Vancouver, Canada, in April.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously stated that when a player deliberately covers their mouth while speaking during a match, referees may suspect an attempt to conceal inappropriate comments. However, he stressed that any disciplinary action, including a red card, remains at the referee's discretion.
The issue first gained international attention in February when Gianluca Prestianni covered his face with his jersey while speaking to Vinícius Júnior during a UEFA Champions League match. An investigation later concluded that Prestianni had used homophobic language rather than racist remarks, resulting in a six-match suspension, three of which were suspended.
Almirón had already found himself involved in another controversial application of a new rule earlier in the tournament. During Paraguay's opening match against the United States, American defender Tim Ream was initially booked for a challenge before a VAR review determined that Almirón had simulated the foul. The yellow card was subsequently transferred from Ream to Almirón under the tournament's revised disciplinary guidelines.
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