The World Cup has already produced one of its most unusual disciplinary moments, with Paraguay attacker Miguel Almiron becoming the first player at the tournament to be sent off for covering his mouth during a confrontation.
The incident happened late in the first half of Paraguay’s Group D match against Turkey.
During a heated exchange with an opponent, Almiron covered his mouth while speaking, which triggered the tournament’s new disciplinary protocol.
After a VAR check, the referee showed him a straight red card.
According to The Guardian, the decision left Paraguay down to 10 men while they were trying to protect their position in a crucial group-stage fixture.
It was a major moment not only in the match, but also in the wider debate around how football handles abuse on the pitch.
Miguel Almiron #10 of Paraguay reacts after receiving a red card (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
The new law was approved in April by IFAB ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
It was designed to stop players from hiding potentially discriminatory language by covering their mouth with a hand, arm or shirt during confrontations.
The rule gained momentum after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior alleged he had been abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match.
That incident created pressure for football authorities to act more aggressively against hidden insults and abusive language.