First Red Card of World Cup for 'Covering Mouth' During Argument: Paraguay Player Sent Off

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America has seen its first player sent off for what is being called the "Vinicius Rule"—the act of covering one's mouth while arguing with an opponent.

Paraguay's key midfielder, Miguel Almiron, was dismissed late in the first half during the Group D match against Turkey at Bay Area Stadium in San Francisco, California.

Just before the end of the first half, with Paraguay leading 1-0, Paraguayan forward Isidro Pitta attempted a rough tackle and collided with a Turkish player. He then appealed to the referee, claiming his foot had been stepped on by an opponent.

As players from both teams gathered, the atmosphere grew heated. During the confrontation, Almiron faced a Turkish player and said something while covering his mouth.

The Turkish side protested to the referee, who reviewed the situation via an on-field review before showing Almiron a red card.

Ahead of this tournament, FIFA decided to strictly sanction the act of covering one's mouth while speaking during confrontations with opponents. The rule is intended to prevent players from using the inability to verify their words as a cover for racist remarks or insults.

The regulation, often referred to by football fans as the "Vinicius Rule," stems from an incident during a UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica last February, where a Benfica player was accused of making racist remarks toward Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior while covering his mouth.

Almiron is the first player to be sent off under this new regulation at the North and Central American World Cup.

Despite being at a numerical disadvantage following Almiron's dismissal, Paraguay managed to hold onto the lead provided by Matias Galarza's first-half goal, finishing the match with a 1-0 victory.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.