Key Points
- Paraguay's Miguel Almirón red-carded in the 93rd minute for covering his mouth.
- First ejection under FIFA's new anti-concealment rule.
- Rule added after the 2025-26 Vinícius Júnior incident, to stop hidden slurs.
- Paraguay won 1-0 on Matías Galarza's early goal, eliminating Turkey.
FIFA wrote a new rule to stop players from hiding their words from the cameras, and Paraguay's Miguel Almirón just became the first to fall foul of it. Almirón was sent off in the 93rd minute of Paraguay's World Cup Group D match against Turkey for covering his mouth during an argument with defender Mert Müldür.
The rule, ratified by the International Football Association Board ahead of this tournament, makes intentionally covering your mouth during a confrontation an automatic red card. It was written after the 2025-26 Champions League incident involving Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior, the idea being that a hand over the mouth can conceal a slur from officials and broadcast review. Referee Ivan Barton issued the red after Müldür appealed and the play was reviewed.
Paraguay advanced anyway
Down to ten men, Paraguay held on to win 1-0 on Matías Galarza's goal barely a minute into the match, a result that eliminated Turkey from the World Cup. It was the seventh red card of the 2026 tournament — already the most since 2014 — and Paraguay's third in World Cup history. The win came in the same Group D where the United States clinched its knockout-round spot.
Sources: ESPN, Fox Sports
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