In the Turkey-Paraguay match on the second day of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, one of the new rules approved by FIFA for the major World Cup tournament was applied for the first time.
In the 45’+3′ minute, Miguel Almirón was sent off with a direct red card for addressing Mert Müldür, a Turkish rivalputting his hand over his mouth so that it wouldn’t be known what he was saying.
The Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton He was called to the VAR by the Qatari Khamis Mohammed Al Marri and after reviewing the situation there was no doubt: the Paraguayan footballer from Atlanta United saw a direct red card after the Central American referee’s explanation.
Almirón regrets after seeing the red card
This rule was implemented by FIFA ahead of the World Cup after the enormous controversy that occurred in the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid, where the Argentine Gianluca Prestianni, of the embodied team, faced Vinicius covering his mouth so that it would not be detected even in the VAR nor in any way what he said to the Brazilian.
The Real Madrid footballer always defended that the South American also insulted him in a racist way and the Benfica player received a two-match ban. Now Miguel Almiron In this Türkiye-Paraguay, the ‘Vinicius norm’ has ended up being released.
