Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron has become the first player to receive a red card under soccer’s new rule against covering the mouth while speaking to an opponent during a FIFA World Cup group stage match against Turkey in San Francisco.The incident occurred before the end of the first half, when Paraguay was leading 1-0. Almiron (32 years old) was seen covering his mouth with his hand while speaking with Turkish defender Mert Muldor. Muldaur immediately brought the matter to the attention of a nearby match official.After a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, El Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton informed the fans that Almirón had been sent off.The World Cup is the first major tournament in which the new regulations are implemented.
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 backed the move, saying referees should work from the “assumption” that players have said “something they shouldn’t have said” when they deliberately cover their mouths during on-field conversations.However, the final decision rests with the referee, who is expected to assess the circumstances of each incident before deciding whether a red card is warranted.
The issue of players covering their mouths gained attention earlier this year during a UEFA Champions League match involving Benfica winger Gianluca Pristiani and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. Pristiani lifted his shirt while speaking to Vinicius, and was later accused of racist abuse, an accusation he denied.Following a UEFA investigation, Prestiani was found guilty of homophobic behavior rather than racist abuse, and was banned for six matches, as well as a three-match suspension.This is not the first time Almiron has been affected by the newly introduced law at the current World Cup. During Paraguay’s opening group stage match against the United States, the referee initially booked American defender Tim Ream for a foul on Almiron. However, after a VAR review, officials concluded that Almiron had simulated the incident, and the Paraguayan player was shown a yellow card instead.