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Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player to receive a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth, sent off during a late first-half confrontation against Turkey on Friday night.
The infraction occurred during stoppage time in the first half of the Group D match, when Almiron and Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almiron covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.
Barton reviewed the video and quickly ruled that Almiron would receive a red card and be sent off under a new rule put in place for this year’s World Cup.
“According to the law, if you cover your mouth you are sent off. Red card,” said coach Gustavo Alfaro. “There’s nothing I can do about it. Unfortunately, we can’t issue a new opinion on this.”
Paraguay led 1-0 at that point and held on despite having a man down for the entire second half.
Alfaro said he tried to cheer Almiron up after the game, telling him his absence brought out the team’s “fighting spirit.”
“He apologized to the players for his mistake,” Alfaro said. “He was aware of the situation he left his teammates in with his actions. … It happened and it happened.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to cover up verbal abuse towards Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during a Champions League match.
Alfaro said the team was well aware of the rule even though it could be too harsh.
“I fear we are being too strict and football is losing its essence,” Alfaro said. “In football, there is friction, fights, clashes.”
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The red card means Almiron will miss the final group stage match against Australia with second place in Group D at stake. FIFA could choose to extend the suspension to sideline Almiron for a knockout match.
“I hope the penalty is that he misses as few matches as possible,” Alfaro said. “He was very sorry and he was very affected.”
This is the second time in two World Cup matches that Almiron has been carded under a new rule in effect this year. He received a yellow card in the opening match against the United States after video review overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream and instead gave it to Almiron for diving.
Associated Press reporting.
