Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron Makes World Cup History with Unique Red Card

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — In a surprising turn of events, Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player ever to receive a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth during a match. This incident occurred on Friday night during a Group D game against Turkey, just before halftime.

The controversial moment unfolded during stoppage time in the first half when Almiron and Turkish player Mert Mulder engaged in a verbal exchange following a foul near midfield. As Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to Mulder, the Turkish player sought the referee’s intervention.

Referee Ivan Barton consulted video review and swiftly decided to issue a red card to Almiron, ejecting him from the game. At that point, Paraguay was leading 1-0.

This decision stems from a new regulation implemented for the current World Cup, championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino after an incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who attempted to conceal offensive remarks during a Champions League match against Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior.