Almiron first player sent off for covering mouth

Almiron first player sent off for covering mouthImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Miguel Almiron spent six years with Newcastle United before leaving in 2025ByPhil CartwrightBBC Sport journalistPublished20 June 2026, 05:35 BSTUpdated 14 minutes agoParaguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player to be shown a red card for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent during his side’s World Cup group match against Turkey in San Francisco.Almiron, 32, obscured his mouth with his hand while speaking to Turkey’s Mert Muldur, who immediately informed an official standing next to him.Following a check by the video assistant referee (VAR), referee Ivan Barton from El Salvador revealed to the crowd that he was sending off the former Newcastle United winger.The incident occurred just before half-time with Paraguay leading 1-0.Commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, former Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison reported: “If you know the rules, you shouldn’t do it. You’ve got to credit the referee and the VAR for making that decision.”Not everyone would agree with it, but if those are the rules, you’ve got to stick by the rules.”Players who cover mouths face red card at World Cup