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Paraguay's Almirón becomes first player sent off for covering mouth

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 20, 2026, 4:18 AM

Last updated Jun 20, 2026

Paraguay's Almirón becomes first player sent off for covering mouth

Summary

Miguel Almirón of Paraguay was sent off during a FIFA World Cup match against Türkiye for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent. The incident occurred in the 44th minute of the first half, as both teams were locked in an ongoing clash. This marked the first implementation of a new rule aimed at penalizing players in verbal confrontations. With both Paraguay and Türkiye having opened their World Cup campaigns with defeats, they both face pressure to perform in this critical match.

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By the Numbers

•Almirón was sent off for covering his mouth during an argument.
•The incident occurred in the 44th minute of the match.
•This is the first application of the 'Prestianni rule' during the World Cup.
•Paraguay and Türkiye both lost their opening matches.
•The match is currently ongoing with implications for knockout stage hopes.

Latest Updates

4:18 AMYahoo Sports — 😳 Cup sees 1st sending-off for player covering mouth in clash

What they're saying

"
One of the new rules introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body responsible for the sport’s rules, was applied for the first time at this FIFA World Cup.Paraguay wen...
— Yahoo Sports

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Champions League Soccer