Miguel Almirón makes history as first player sent off under FIFA’s new mouth-covering law

ByKehinde-Hassan Afolabi

Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón made unwanted football history by becoming the first player ever sent off for covering his mouth during an on-field confrontation under a newly implemented FIFA disciplinary regulation.

Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón claimed an unprecedented piece of football history on Friday after being shown a straight red card during his nation’s 1-0 FIFA World Cup Group D victory over Türkiye.

The former Newcastle United winger was dismissed in first-half stoppage time at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium following a heated verbal altercation with Turkish defender Mert Müldür.

The history-making ejection came after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review prompted Salvadoran referee Iván Barton to strictly enforce FIFA’s recently adopted “Prestianni Law.”

Ratified in late April, the regulation mandates an automatic red card for any player who intentionally covers their mouth during an on-pitch dispute, working under the presumption that the gesture hides discriminatory or abusive language from lip-readers.

Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi is a football journalist whose deep tactical understanding of the game makes him a standout, captivating audiences across print, audio, and video. His poetic background brings a unique rhythm and depth to his work, seamlessly transforming analysis into artistry. With a knack for narration and research, he captures the drama of the game beyond tactics and statistics, making each piece of his; a compelling blend of insight and storytelling.

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