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Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón became the first player to receive a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth, when he was sent off during a clash at the end of the first half against Turkey on Friday night.
The violation occurred during stoppage time of the first half of the Group D match when Almirón and Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almirón covered his mouth as he said something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton to punish him.
Barton went to the video review and quickly ruled that Almirón would receive a red card and be sent off under a new rule implemented for this year’s World Cup.
“According to the law, if you cover your mouth you are sent off. Red card,” said coach Gustavo Alfaro. “I can’t do anything about it. Unfortunately, we cannot give a new opinion on this.”
Paraguay led 1-0 at the time and held on for the victory despite playing with a man down for the entire second half.
Alfaro said he tried to cheer up Almirón after the game, telling him that his absence brought out the team’s “fighting spirit.”
“He apologizes to the players for their mistake,” Alfaro said. “He knew about the situation he had left his teammates in with his actions… It happened and it happened.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to cover up verbal insults towards Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League match.
Alfaro said the team was well aware of the rule, even if it might be too harsh.
“I’m afraid we are too strict and football loses its essence,” Alfaro said. “In football there are frictions, fights, confrontations.”
Stories related to the FIFA World Cup
The red card means that Almirón will miss the final group game against Australia and second place in Group D will be at stake. FIFA could choose to extend the suspension to keep Almirón out of a round of 16 match.
“I hope the sanction is that he misses as few games as possible,” Alfaro said. “I was very sorry and I was very affected.”
This is the second time in two World Cup matches that Almirón has received a card under a new rule in effect this year. He received 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 Almirón for diving.
Information from The Associated Press.
