World Cup star gets first-ever red card for covering mouth during clash

Paraguay attacker Miguel Almiron made unwanted World Cup history after becoming the first player to be sent off for covering his mouth during a confrontation with an opponent.

Almiron was shown a straight red card late in the first half of Paraguay’s Group D clash with Turkey after an exchange with Turkish defender Mert Muldur.

The incident happened after Paraguay’s Isidro Pitta went down hurt, leading to a clash between players from both teams.

As Almiron walked past Muldur, he briefly placed his hand over his mouth.

Muldur immediately drew the referee’s attention to the incident.

Referee Ivan Barton reviewed the footage on the monitor before showing Almiron a straight red card.

The decision made Almiron the first player at the tournament to be dismissed under the new mouth-covering rule introduced before the World Cup.

The rule was brought in to help combat racism and abusive remarks during confrontations on the pitch.

It followed an incident involving Brazil forward Vinicius Junior, who alleged that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him while covering his mouth during a Champions League match.

There was, however, no immediate suggestion that Almiron made any racist comment to Muldur.

The rule does not completely ban players from covering their mouths during matches.

Players are still allowed to do so during friendly conversations, but not in confrontational exchanges.

FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina had explained before the tournament that the context of the gesture was important.

“If it is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem,” Collina said.

“We respect that there are players who are friends and it is normal to chat before, during or after the match.

“When it is confrontational, it is a completely different story. Covering the mouth means you are doing something potentially very wrong.”

Collina added that such an action was deliberate and not something a player could do instinctively.

Almiron looked stunned after the red card was shown, but appeared to understand the mistake as his teammates moved in to console him.

The dismissal could have serious consequences for the 32-year-old, who is now suspended for Paraguay’s final group match against Australia next Thursday.

It may also put his World Cup campaign in danger if Paraguay fail to reach the knockout stage.

Before the red card, Paraguay had made a perfect start against Turkey in the San Francisco Bay area.

Matias Galarza fired Paraguay ahead with a superb low strike after just two minutes.

Almiron’s sending off in first-half stoppage time threatened to change the game, but Paraguay held firm to secure a 1-0 victory.

The result kept Paraguay’s hopes of reaching the last 32 alive after they were beaten 4-1 by the United States in their opening match.

Turkey, who had earlier lost 2-0 to Australia, were eliminated from the tournament after the defeat.