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Türkiye vs. Paraguay red card, explained: Why player was sent off for covering mouth
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- Türkiye vs. Paraguay red card, explained: Why player was sent off for covering mouth
Paraguay 's Miguel Almirón made history during Friday's World Cup match against Türkiye. Not the positive kind, however.
Late in the first half of Paraguay's eventual 1-0 win, Almirón got chippy with Türkiye defender Mert Müldür after a foul. Almirón decided to cover his mouth during the argument, leading to a deeply controversial call: Referee Iván Barton gave Almirón a red card following a VAR review.
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The red card left Paraguay a man down for the entire second half, yet the team was still able to pull out a crucial victory. Paraguay will next play Australia for a shot at second place behind the U.S. in Group D.
So, what was the deal with that red card? Let's get into it.
Why did the Paraguay player get a red card?
It's the first use of a rule implemented by the International Football Association Board back in April. The rule prohibits players from covering their mouths during confrontations.
Why are players given red cards for covering mouths?
The IFAB added the rule after Brazil 's Vinicius Junior alleged Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him with his mouth covered during a UEFA Champions League match in February. Prestianni was later suspended for six matches.
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Will Miguel Almirón play in Paraguay's next match?
No. The red card means he'll automatically miss next week's Australia match. FIFA could even lengthen his suspension, should its disciplinary committee deem necessary.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Türkiye vs. Paraguay red card, explained: Why Miguel Almirón was sent off for covering mouth
