World Cup First: Paraguay's Almiron Red-Carded for Covering Mouth During Play

In a historic first for the World Cup, Paraguay's Miguel Almiron was sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent during his team's group stage match against Turkey in San Francisco. The incident, which occurred just before halftime with Paraguay leading 1-0, saw Almiron obscure his mouth with his hand while addressing Turkey's Mert Muldur. Muldur immediately alerted an official, leading to a review by the video assistant referee (VAR) and a red card from El Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton.

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If you know the rules, you shouldn’t do it. You’ve got to credit the referee and the VAR for making that decision. Not everyone would agree with it, but if those are the rules, you’ve got to stick by the rules.

Former Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, acknowledged the referee's decision, stating, “If you know the rules, you shouldn’t do it. You’ve got to credit the referee and the VAR for making that decision.” He added that while not everyone might agree, adherence to the rules is paramount.

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

Despite playing with ten men for more than half the match, Paraguay held on to secure a crucial 1-0 victory. This win keeps their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout stage; they will qualify for the last 32 if they defeat Australia in their final group game. Coach Gustavo Alfaro accepted the dismissal, noting that while he couldn't contest the referee's decision based on the laws of the game, Almiron's absence seemed to galvanize his team's fighting spirit. Almiron has since apologized to his teammates for the mistake.

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He apologised to the players for his mistake. He knew about the situation he had left his team-mates in with his actions.