Paraguay's Almirón handed one-match World Cup ban after expulsion

Paraguay's star forward Miguel Almirón will miss his team's critical World Cup match against Australia after receiving a one-game suspension from FIFA. The expulsion stemmed from an incident during Paraguay's game against Turkey, where Almirón was shown a red card for covering his mouth while interacting with a Turkish defender.

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Almirón violated article 14.b of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, relating to the unsportsmanlike conduct of footballers.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee notified Paraguay of the suspension, citing a violation of Article 14.b of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which addresses unsportsmanlike conduct. The incident occurred when Almirón was speaking to Turkish defender Mert Muldur, who then reported the action to the referee. This rule has been more strictly enforced following a controversy involving alleged racism between Argentinian player Gianluca Prestianni and Brazilian player Vinicius Junior earlier in the year.

Almirón, who plays for Atlanta United in MLS, is a key player for Paraguay's attack. His absence is a significant blow to the team's chances in their crucial match against Australia. The FIFA communication also stated that the decision is not subject to appeal, despite the Paraguayan delegation hoping for a lesser penalty.

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de-naturalizing the activity

The expulsion and subsequent suspension have drawn considerable criticism within Paraguay. Many fans and football figures, including former goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert, have voiced their disapproval of the referee's decision and accused FIFA of "de-naturalizing" the sport. Additionally, Paraguayan journalist Jorge 'Chipi' Vera had his World Cup credentials revoked after directing insults at the referee and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

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killing football