Paraguay's Almiron suspended one match after red card for covering mouth; commentator's accreditation revoked

The incident

During Paraguay's 1-0 win over Turkey on Friday 19 June, midfielder Miguel Almirón became the first player sent off under a new rule that penalises covering the mouth during on-field confrontations. Referee Iván Barton, prompted by the VAR, showed Almirón a straight red card in first-half stoppage time after he held his hand over his mouth while speaking to Turkey's Mert Müldür. Paraguay went on to win the Group D match with ten men, eliminating Turkey from the tournament.

The rule and its background

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) agreed in April that competition organisers may impose a red card when a player covers their mouth to conceal verbal comments towards an opponent. The measure is not mandatory under the Laws of the Game but FIFA chose to apply it at the 2026 World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino advocated for the rule after a Champions League incident last season in which Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth while directing homophobic insults at Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior. UEFA subsequently banned Prestianni for six matches, three of them deferred.

“This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule. It's about respect, it's about the example that we should give. If you have nothing to hide, you don't cover your mouth when you speak to somebody.”

Suspension confirmed

On Tuesday, FIFA's disciplinary committee handed Almirón a one-match suspension, ruling that he will miss Paraguay's final group game against Australia on Thursday. The decision was not subject to appeal. The 32-year-old midfielder will be unavailable as Paraguay, already through to the knockout stage, looks to secure top spot in Group D.

Commentator's accreditation revoked

The red card ignited fury in Paraguay, most notably from television commentator Jorge Chipi Vera. During a live broadcast for ABC Cardinal, Vera called referee Iván Barton and Infantino "thieves" and accused them of "killing football." He later apologised on social media, but FIFA confirmed on Monday that his World Cup accreditation had been cancelled. A source familiar with the case told Reuters that the federation considered his language unacceptable and incompatible with professional standards expected of broadcasters.

Vera had questioned whether a Paraguayan player could realistically direct a racist insult at a Turkish opponent, arguing the decision lacked common sense.

“What kind of racist insult could Miguel Almirón possibly say to a Turkish player? We need a little common sense.”

The broadcaster ABC Cardinal described the permanent revocation of Vera's accreditation as "an extreme and manifestly disproportionate sanction" for a single, immediately acknowledged infraction.

The road ahead

Paraguay will face Australia without Almirón on Thursday, while the incident has already drawn attention to the new rule's enforcement. Infantino's remarks on Tuesday signalled that FIFA intends to continue its strict application.