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Paraguay's Miguel Almiron Becomes 1st Player Red-Carded at the World Cup for Covering His Mouth

The Paraguay midfielder was ejected under a new FIFA rule after a video review, leaving his team down to 10 men before halftime.

  • On Friday, Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player issued a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth during a confrontation with Turkiye player Mert Mulder. Referee Ivan Barton ejected Almiron following a video review.
  • FIFA implemented a rule for this year's tournament mandating a red card for players covering mouths in "confrontational situations," though the regulation exempts friendly conversations between club teammates on opposing teams.
  • Paraguay held a 1-0 lead before the incident occurred near midfield during first-half stoppage time. The ejection forced Paraguay to play the entire second half with 10 men, significantly disadvantaging the team.
  • Following the heated exchange, Mulder appealed to Barton for punishment, prompting the referee to utilize video review and confirm the infraction. Almiron's ejection from the Group D match became a historic disciplinary moment.
  • Group D standings remain critical for Paraguay, which competes against the United States, Australia, and Turkiye. Teams earn three points for a win and one point for a draw in the round-robin format, with the top two advancing.
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The "badest team in the tournament" is spoken of. Paraguay's Miguel Almiron sees the first red card for keeping his mouth shut.

·Munich, Germany
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RTÉ broke the news in Ireland on Friday, June 19, 2026.
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