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World Cup First: Paraguay's Almiron Sent Off for Covering His Mouth
BBC Sport·Saturday, 20 June 2026
Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player to be sent off under new 2026 World Cup rules that ban players from covering their mouths while speaking to opponents. Despite playing with 10 men, Paraguay still won the match and eliminated Turkey from the tournament. The red card is the first of its kind in World Cup history.
Why It Matters
Football's governing bodies introduced this rule to stop players hiding tactical conversations from coaches and lip-readers — it's a genuinely new development in how the game is refereed at the highest level.
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