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The Türkiye-Paraguay clash in Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup witnessed a historic moment as Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player to be sent off under a newly introduced tournament rule.
The incident occurred during first-half stoppage time in the match held in the San Francisco Bay Area. Following a disputed situation on the field, referee Ivan Barton was advised by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team to review the incident at the pitch-side monitor. After assessing the footage, Barton returned to the field and showed Almiron a red card in the 45+3rd minute.
The decision was made after Almiron was seen covering his mouth with his hand while speaking during a confrontation.
The new regulation, introduced for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, gives referees the authority to take disciplinary action when players attempt to hide their words by covering their mouths during on-field discussions.
The rule, implemented by FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), aims to prevent players from concealing potentially offensive, discriminatory, or unsporting remarks during matches.
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