Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player to be issued a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth, getting sent off during a confrontation late in the first half against Turkiye.

The infraction came during first-half stoppage time in the Group D match on Friday night when Almiron and Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near 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 for this year’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 playing a man down for the entire second half.

Alfaro said he tried to cheer Almiron up after the game, telling him his absence brought out the “fighting spirit” of the team.

“He apologised 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.”

Verbal insults

FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults toward Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game.

Alfaro said the team was well aware of the rule even if it might be too harsh. “I fear we are too strict and football loses its essence,” Alfaro said. “In football, there’s frictions, fights, clashes.”

Almiron suspended

The red card means Almiron will miss the final group stage match against Australia, with second place in Group D on the line. FIFA could choose to lengthen a suspension to sideline Almiron for a knockout round 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 games at the World Cup that Almiron has been carded under a new rule in place this year. He got a yellow card in the opening match against the United States after a video review overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream and gave it to Almiron instead for diving.

Matias Galarza scored 65 seconds into the game for the fastest goal at this year’s World Cup and Paraguay held on for a 1-0 win over Turkiye on Friday night after playing a man down for more than half the match.

Paraguay was short-handed after Miguel Almiron was issued a red card late in the first half for violating a new rule banning players from covering their mouth during a confrontation. But goalkeeper Orlando Gill made several key saves to preserve the lead.

The win assured the United States would win Group D and eliminated Turkiye from any chance of advancing to the knockout round with its second straight loss. Paraguay will face Australia in the final match of the group stage next Thursday, with second place in the group on the line.

FIFA World Cup 2026 | Turkiye vs Paraguay Highlights

Paraguay bounced back from a 4-1 loss in the opener against the U.S. team thanks in part to a lineup change made by Gustavo Alfaro. Galarza, who plays for Atlanta United of the MLS, was put into the starting lineup after sitting out the opener and rewarded his coach when he sent a left-footed shot from about 25 yards into the net just 1:05 into the game.

Turkiye nearly got the equalizer later in the first half but Mert Muldur’s header off a free kick hit the cross bar and goal post.

Muldur was in the middle of the confrontation in stoppage time in the first half that led to Galarza’s ejection.

Almiron and Mulder exchanged words following a foul near 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 for this year’s World Cup.

Turkiye dominated possession for a second straight match but once again it wasn’t enough as the Turks followed up the 2-0 loss to Australia with another defeat that assures they will have a short stay in their first World Cup appearance in 24 years.

Turkiye qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2002 but was unable to repeat the same kind of run that year that led to a third-place finish despite entering the tournament as a favorite to advance from the group.

Orlando Gill made a save on a tricky deflection on a shot by Merih Demiral early in the second half and again on a long range attempt from Abdulkerim Bardakci midway through the half to preserve the lead. Gill then stopped Can Uzun from in close late in the half and Deniz Gul sent the rebound wide.

Merih Demiral’s header late in stoppage time went wide, ending Turkiye’s last hope.