Football : Almiron becomes the first player sent off for covering his mouth according to the BBC

• Miguel Almiron received a red card for covering his mouth.
• A new Ifab rule prohibits players from obscuring their mouths.
• Gianni Infantino supports penalties for players hiding their speech.

In a World Cup match in San Francisco Miguel Almiron was sent off. The 32 year old Paraguayan winger used his hand to cover his mouth while chatting with Mert Muldur. Almiron became the first player sent off for this specific action during the group stage clash against Turkey.

The official, Ivan Barton, made the call after a VAR review. The red card was issued just before the break while Paraguay held a 1-0 lead. Mert Muldur had told the referee about the incident immediately. This was a harsh but rule-based dismissal for the former Newcastle United man.

Ifab implemented mouth covering rules in Vancouver

This regulation was decided during an April meeting of the International Football Association Board in Vancouver. It is the first time the rule is seen at a World Cup. Referees hold absolute discretion when deciding if a red card is needed based on circumstances.

Gianni Infantino had previously voiced support for such a sanction. He suggested that match officials should operate on a presumption that players said something they should not have. This mindset encourages the use of red cards for mouth covering.

Previous tension arose in February when Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt during a Champions League match. That player faced accusations of racist abuse though he denied it. He was eventually found guilty of homophobic conduct and received a six match ban, with three suspended.

Clinton Morrison noted that « If you know the rules, you shouldn’t do it. » He argued that the VAR and referee must be credited for the call. He added that « if those are the rules, you’ve got to stick by the rules » despite potential disagreement.