Paraguay's Miguel Almiron becomes first player ejected under FIFA's new mouth-covering rule at World Cup

The World Cup has its first red card for mouth-covering.

Before the tournament, FIFA rolled out some new rules that give officials the latitude to issue players red cards if they cover their mouths during a confrontation with an opponent.

Well, Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron did just that against Turkey on Friday night, and it warranted him a red card — and possibly cost him the remainder of his World Cup.

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The infraction came during first-half stoppage time in the Group D match when Almiron and Mert Mulder exchanged words following a foul near midfield. Almiron covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.

Barton went to video review and quickly ruled that Almiron would be given a red card and ejected under a new rule put in place for this year's World Cup.

"According to the law, if you cover your mouth you’re sent off. Red card," coach Gustavo Alfaro said. "There’s nothing I can do about that. Unfortunately, we can’t issue a new opinion on this."

The red card left Paraguay with just 10 players for the rest of its match, but it still came away with a 1-0 win to clinch the group for the United States.

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However, Paraguay could be out of the tournament with a loss next week against Australia, and the red card means Almiron will be suspended for the contest. The winner of that match will clinch second place in the group, and the loser's fate would rely on other third-place finishers in other groups. It's unlikely Paraguay is out (84% chance to advance, via The Athletic), but it's not off the table.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults directed at Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game.

This is the second time in two games at the World Cup that Almiron was carded under a new rule in place this year. He got a yellow card in the opening match against the United States after video review overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream and issued one to Almiron instead for diving.

OutKick's Matt Reigle and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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