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Uncertain World Cup for Paraguay’s Almiron, sent off for covering his mouth
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player at the 2024 World Cup to be sent off for violating a new rule banning players from covering their mouths during on-field confrontations, forcing Paraguay to play with 10 men for the second half against Turkiye.
- The rule was introduced after a Champions League incident involving alleged discriminatory remarks hidden under a player’s shirt, aiming to increase transparency and combat discrimination in football.
- Despite being a man down, Paraguay secured a 1-0 victory over Turkiye, keeping their World Cup hopes alive and eliminating Turkiye from the tournament.
- Almiron will miss Paraguay’s final Group D match against Australia due to the red card, but he expressed pride in his team’s effort on social media without mentioning his dismissal.
- Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro accepted the enforcement of the new rules but criticized their strictness, warning that excessive regulation might harm the spirit of the game.
