"Vini Jr." Protocol: Paraguayan player is first sent off under new rule

Midfielder Almirón, from Paraguay, became the first player sent off in the 2026 World Cup in the early hours of Friday (19) to Saturday (20) for breaking one of the new rules implemented by FIFA for the tournament.

The move occurred in the 46th minute of the first half of the match against Turkey. During an argument with Turkish Müldür, the Paraguayan player placed his hand in front of his mouth while speaking to his opponent. This attitude caught the attention of the video referee, who recommended reviewing the play.

After analyzing the images on the VAR monitor, the referee decided to issue a straight red card to Almirón in the 47th minute of the opening half.

The expulsion was due to a recent change in the Laws of the Game approved by FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB). From the 2026 World Cup onwards, players who deliberately cover their mouths when addressing opponents, referees or other sporting officials in confrontational situations may be directly sent off.

In the match, player Mert Muldur, Turkey's number 18, reported Miguel Almirón for covering his mouth during the match.

Turkey player denounces Almirón for gesture - Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
The measure gained prominence behind the scenes of football after an episode involving Argentine Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Júnior in the Champions League playoffs, in early 2025. On that occasion, the player used the same gesture during a conversation with the Brazilian and ended up being subject to disciplinary punishment, a case that helped boost the debate about the practice.

President of the FIFA Arbitration Committee, Pierluigi Collina had already warned that the entity would adopt zero tolerance for this type of behavior. According to the former Italian referee, the gesture is considered intentional and seeks to prevent the identification of the content of the conversation, which is why it is now classified as an infraction subject to expulsion.

Because of the rule's relationship with the episode involving Vinicius Júnior, the measure began to be informally nicknamed by fans and part of the international press as the "Vini Jr Protocol." Almirón's expulsion marks the first practical application of the new determination in a World Cup match.

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Source: CNN