"Covered mouth with hand, received red card" — this is the Vini rule! First-ever red card in World Cup history... Paraguay defeats Turkey 1-0

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The first red card under the so-called "Vini rule," introduced for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, has been issued. The unfortunate recipient is Miguel Almirón (32, Atlanta United), a key midfielder for the Paraguay national team.

On the 20th (Korea time), Almirón received a direct red card in the third minute of stoppage time in the first half during the Group D second-round match against Turkey at Bay Area Stadium in San Francisco, California, USA.

The incident occurred late in the first half while Paraguay was leading 1-0. Paraguay striker Isidro Pitta attempted a rough tackle, then protested to the referee, claiming a Turkish player had stepped on his foot. During the exchange, players from both teams became entangled, sparking a heated confrontation. At that moment, Almirón covered his mouth with his hand while speaking to a Turkish player.

Mert Müldür of Turkey immediately protested to the referee upon witnessing this. The referee, after carefully reviewing the situation via video assistant referee (VAR), promptly showed Almirón a red card.

Starting with this North American tournament, a strict new rule has been introduced: "Players who cover their mouths while confronting opponents during a match will be sent off." This measure aims to completely prevent racist remarks and profanity.

The rule originated from an incident in the first leg of the 2025–2026 UEFA Champions League (UCL) play-offs in February, when Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica) was sanctioned for covering his mouth toward Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) and making racist remarks.

As a result, Almirón became the first player to be sent off under the new regulation at the North American World Cup. Paraguay took the lead early, with Matías Galarza scoring in the second minute. Despite Almirón's unexpected dismissal, Paraguay played the second half with ten men and maintained their lead, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original