World Cup player first ever person to be sent off for breaking new FIFA rule
Paraguay winger Miguel Almiron became the first ever player to be shown a red card at the World Cup under the new FIFA rules.
The former Newcastle star, 32, was dismissed during Paraguay 1-0 win over Turkey on Saturday (20 June), meaning they are now certain to finish bottom of Group D.
During the match, Matias Galarza gave Paraguay a second-minute lead as his smashed it into the bottom corner.
Almiron, however, was sent off just before the break following the introduction of a new rule approved by the game’s lawmakers in April.
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Following a VAR review, Almiron was dismissed for covering his mouth during an altercation with an opponent.
Almiron had covered his mouth while speaking to Turkey’s Mert Muldur.
The rule was introduced after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior claimed he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who covered his mouth while talking to the Brazilian during a Champions League match in February.
With Almiron, there has been no suggestion that anything wrong was said.
Turkey's Mert Muldur, who noticed that he was covering his mouth when talking, then tried to get the attention of the referee Ivan Barton.
“If it is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem,” FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina explained in June.
“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.
“This is something you do on purpose. It is not something that a player can do instinctively.”
Almiron, who now plays his club football for Atlanta, took to Instagram after the match to thank his teammates.
“I want to thank my teammates for their effort today, giving their all for every ball. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's an honor to be part of this team,” he wrote, according to a translation.
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said of his players on the FIFA website: “They need to come out of the dressing room sad because we are all sad, but they need to leave the dressing room with their heads held high. They’ve got nothing to hold against themselves in terms of their behaviour or their commitment.
“I’m sure that this lesson will certainly allow us to improve as a team. This disappointment, this bitterness – we will improve as a team going forward.”
Anish Vij