Almiron becomes first player red-carded at World Cup for covering his mouth

Miguel Almiron made unwanted history at the 2026 World Cup on Friday night, becoming the first player sent off under FIFA’s new rule against covering the mouth during play, as Paraguay defeated Turkey 1-0 in a Group D match despite finishing with ten men.

The incident occurred in first-half stoppage time when Almiron and Turkey’s Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton. After a video review, Barton issued the red card and ejected the Newcastle midfielder.

“According to the law, if you cover your mouth you’re sent off. Red card,” Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said. “There’s nothing I can do about that. Unfortunately, we can’t issue a new opinion on this.”

Paraguay were leading 1-0 at the time and held on through the entire second half a man down to claim all three points. Alfaro said he tried to lift Almiron’s spirits after the final whistle, telling him the dismissal had brought out the team’s “fighting spirit.”

“He apologized to the players for his mistake,” Alfaro said. “He knew about the situation he had left his teammates in with his actions. It happened and it happened.”

The rule was championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino following an incident in the Champions League in which Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni used a covered mouth to direct verbal insults at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior.

Alfaro acknowledged his squad had been briefed on the regulation but questioned whether it was proportionate. “I fear we are too strict and football loses its essence,” he said. “In football, there’s frictions, fights, clashes.”

The red card means Almiron will automatically miss Paraguay’s final group stage match against Australia, with second place in Group D at stake. FIFA also retains the option to extend the suspension into the knockout rounds.

“I hope the penalty is he misses as few matches as possible,” Alfaro said. “He was very sorry and he was heavily affected.”

This is the second time in two World Cup appearances that Almiron has been carded under a new rule at this tournament. In the opening group match against the United States, a yellow card originally shown to American defender Tim Ream was overturned on video review and transferred to Almiron for diving.