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•20 Jun 2026, 05:13

First-ever red card under FIFA’s new “covered mouth” rule

Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón became the first player ever sent off under FIFA’s new “covered mouth” rule during a World Cup 2026 match against Turkey, after the regulation—introduced in a 2025 FIFA Council meeting in Zurich as part of anti-racism reforms—allowed referees to issue a red card to players who conceal their mouths during confrontations with opponents.