Milan, 24 June (LaPresse) – Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almiron has been suspended for one match after becoming the first player to be sent off at the World Cup for covering his mouth. FIFA has confirmed that Almiron will miss Paraguay’s final group stage match against Australia, scheduled for Thursday. World football’s governing body has stated that the decision is not subject to appeal. Almiron made history when he was shown a red card for covering his mouth during an altercation with Turkey’s Mert Mulder in the closing stages of the first half of Paraguay’s 1-0 victory last Friday. Under the new rules, players are not permitted to cover their mouths to conceal what they are saying during verbal altercations; such offences result in immediate dismissal.
2026 World Cup: sent off for handball in front of goal – Almiron handed a one-match ban
Milan, 24 June (LaPresse) – Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almiron has been suspended for one match after becoming the first player to be sent off at the World Cup for covering his mouth. FIFA has confirmed that Almiron will miss Paraguay’s final group stage match against Australia, scheduled for Thursday. World football’s governing body has stated that the decision is not subject to appeal. Almiron made history when he was shown a red card for covering his mouth during an altercation with Turkey’s Mert Mulder in the closing stages of the first half of Paraguay’s 1-0 victory last Friday. Under the new rules, players are not permitted to cover their mouths to conceal what they are saying during verbal altercations; such offences result in immediate dismissal.
