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FC·June 20, 2026 12:16 AM ET

Almirón shown straight red under FIFA's new anti-mouth-covering rule

FIFA's new mouth-cover rule draws its first red.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 202 min read
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What happened: Miguel Almirón was shown a straight red card in Paraguay's match against Türkiye for breaking FIFA's newly introduced rule that bars players from covering their mouths while speaking. The dismissal came with Paraguay leading 1-0 after Matías Galarza opened the scoring with what was billed as the quickest goal of the tournament. It stands as one of the first sendings-off issued under the new regulation.

Why it matters: The card is an early, high-profile test of how strictly FIFA's anti-mouth-covering rule will be enforced, and it sets an immediate precedent for officials across the rest of the tournament. Reducing a side to ten men over a communication gesture rather than a foul is the kind of call that tends to spark debate about whether the rule is proportionate, and the reaction online was already sharp.

By the numbers: Türkiye came into the night 0-1 on the season having conceded in their opener. Paraguay struck first through Galarza, whose goal was flagged as the fastest of the tournament so far.

What to watch: Watch for any FIFA clarification on how the mouth-covering rule should be applied after this dismissal, and for whether Paraguay can protect their lead while down a man.

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SoccerBreakingTürkiyeParaguayMiguel AlmirónMatías Galarza
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