Almiron becomes first player sent off for covering his mouth, banned for Paraguay's final group game

Miguel Almiron will miss Paraguay’s final World Cup group game against Australia on Thursday after FIFA confirmed the midfielder’s one-match ban for covering his mouth — making him the first player in history to be sent off under the sport’s new anti-concealment rule.

The red card was issued late in the first half of Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkey last Friday, when Almiron covered his mouth during a confrontation with Turkey’s Mert Mulder. FIFA said on Tuesday that the suspension is not subject to appeal.

The rule, which allows competition organisers to dismiss players who cover their mouths during verbal confrontations, was approved by the International Football Association Board in April. It is not mandatory within the Laws of the Game but FIFA opted to apply it at the World Cup.

The legislation was championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino following a high-profile incident in a Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica last season, in which Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni attempted to conceal verbal insults directed at Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. UEFA subsequently handed Prestianni a six-game ban — three of which were deferred — for what it described as “discriminatory (i.e. homophobic) conduct.”

Speaking on Tuesday, Infantino defended the rule’s application. “This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule,” he said. “It’s about respect, it’s about the example that we should give. If you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you speak to somebody. The rules have been made very clear to everyone, everyone knows them, so this is an important element.”

Almiron’s absence leaves Paraguay short-handed in a decisive group fixture, with the result against Australia likely to determine their progress in the tournament.