Almiron of Paraguay has been suspended for one match after a red card for covering his mouth World Cup 2026

FIFA also stripped journalist Jorge Chipi Vera of World Cup history after criticizing Almiron’s red card on air.

Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron has been banned for one game after becoming the first player to be sent off at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for covering his mouth.

FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that Almiron will miss Paraguay’s final match against Australia on Thursday. World football’s governing body said the decision could not be appealed.

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Almiron made history where he was he gave a red card for closing his mouth against Turkey’s Mert Muldur at the end of the first half of Paraguay’s 1-0 win last Friday.

On the floor new rulesplayers are not allowed to keep their mouths shut to hide what they say during controversies, with offenses leading to immediate dismissal.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed the law after what happened in the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica last season.

Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide the insults from Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior.

UEFA later released Prestianni a banning six games – three of which were suspended – for what he described as “discriminatory behavior (eg, homophobia).”

Football’s governing body, the International Football Association Board, agreed in April that players can be punished with a red card if they cover their mouth while talking to another player.

This rule is not legal under the Laws of the Game but gives competition organizers like FIFA the opportunity to use it.

On Tuesday, Infantino said he supports the new law.

“This about closing the mouth is for us a very important law,” he told SNTV. “It’s about respect, it’s about the example we have to set.”

“If you have nothing to hide, you don’t close your mouth when talking to someone.

The journalist was admitted after the explosion on the air against Almiron’s red card

FIFA also stripped soccer commentator Jorge Chipi Vera of his World Cup credentials after the journalist spoke out against the organization and the game’s officials when Almiron was sent off.

The angry broadcaster called Infantino and the referee “thieves” and accused them of “killing the ball”, as Paraguay were reduced to 10 men. He later apologized and said on X late on Monday that his approval had been withdrawn.

“During the broadcast of the match between Paraguay and Turkey, I got angry,” Vera said in her lengthy apology.

“In my frustration over the expulsion of players from my country, and feeling that my national team is being hurt, I used insulting and unacceptable words against the referee, FIFA, and its officials.”

Vera said the punishment means that he can no longer participate in his World Cup media “either inside the stadiums or outside them”, and it refers to “any kind of participation or publication of news related to the World Cup”.

FIFA has not made a public statement on the matter, but it is rare for the organization to ban the media.

Under former president Sepp Blatter, independent investigative journalist Andrew Jennings was banned from all FIFA events following allegations of fraud at the organization, many of which were confirmed in US courts.

Vera, who works for ABC Cardinal and ABC TV, also apologized to the supporters who support the broadcast of the platform and said that he has sent a letter of apology to FIFA, taking full responsibility for what he did.

“Questioning the law or disagreeing with the referee’s decision does not mean a lack of self-control as I have done,” he added.

“I have failed you in one important thing: maintaining the calmness and dignity that this job requires.”