Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron becomes 1st player…
Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron turned the first player issued with a pink card at the World Cup for overlaying his mouth, getting despatched off during a confrontation late in the first half against Turkey on Friday evening.
The infraction got here during first-half stoppage time in the Group D match when Almiron and Mert Mulder exchanged phrases following a foul close to midfield.
Almiron coated his mouth while saying one thing to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.
Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron reacts to being red-carded for overlaying his mouth vs. Turkey, June 19, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN
Barton went to video review and shortly ruled that Almiron could be given a pink card and ejected under a new rule put in place for this 12 months’s World Cup.
“According to the law, if you cover your mouth you’re sent off. Red card,” coach Gustavo Alfaro said. “There’s nothing I can do about that. Unfortunately, we can’t issue a new opinion on this.”
Paraguay led 1-0 at the time and held on for the win despite taking part in a man down for the complete second half.
Alfaro said he tried to cheer Almiron up after the sport, telling him his absence introduced out the “fighting spirit” of the crew.
“He apologized to the players for his mistake,” Alfaro said. “He knew about the situation he had left his teammates in with his actions. … It happened and it happened.”
Almiron is the first player to be issued with a pink card at the World Cup for overlaying his mouth. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to disguise verbal insults toward Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League recreation.
Alfaro said the crew was properly conscious of the rule even if it is likely to be too harsh.
“I fear we are too strict and football loses its essence,” Alfaro said. “In football, there’s frictions, fights, clashes.”
The pink card got here under a new FIFA rule, pushed by President Gianni Infantino, after a Champions League incident. FIFA via Getty Images
The pink card means Almiron will miss the ultimate group stage match against Australia with second place in Group D on the road. FIFA may select to lengthen a suspension to sideline Almiron for a knockout spherical match.
“I hope the penalty is he misses as few matches as possible,” Alfaro said. “He was very sorry and he was heavily affected.”
This is the second time in two video games at the World Cup that Almiron was carded under a new rule in place this 12 months.
He bought a yellow card in the opening match against the United States after video review overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream and gave it to Almiron instead for diving.
Stay up to date with the latest trending topics! Visit our web site daily for the freshest Sports news and content, rigorously curated to keep you informed.
