Photo credit: Reuters
Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player issued a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth. He was sent off during a confrontation late in the first half against Turkey on Friday night.
The Canadian Press reports that the infraction came during the first-half stoppage time in the Group D match when Alniron and Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near the midfield. Almiron covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.
Barton went to video review and quickly ruled that Almiron would be given a red card and ejected under a new rule put in place in this year’s World Cup.
Paraguay led 1-0 at the time.
FIFA president pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults toward Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior in a Champions League game.
