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But a “local scandal” did break out after all. And it is already threatening to escalate into something far more significant in the world of soccer.
At the end of the first half of the match between the national teams of Turkey and Paraguay, the referee unexpectedly showed a red card to the South American player Miguel Almirón. It was unexpected because there didn’t seem to be any serious foul play on the field at the time, and the minor scuffle between the Paraguayan and Turkish defender Mert Muldür was neither aggressive nor rough.
However, the Turkish players began gesturing vigorously to the referee, who ran to the monitor to review the video and fairly quickly decided to send Almiron off.
Echoes of the “Vinícius” Scandal
The Paraguayans were down a man and held off the Turkish attacks for the entire second half. In the end, they held on for the victory, having scored a goal right at the start of the match, in the 2nd minute.
As for the Turkish national team, despite 32 shots on goal and playing with a man advantage for more than a half, they were unable to find the back of the Paraguayan net. Just like they failed to score against Australia in their first group stage match, which they also lost.
As a result, the Turkish national team was one of the first at the 2026 World Cup to lose all hope of advancing to the knockout stage and continuing their quest for the trophy.
Almirón’s red card echoed the “Vinícius scandal.”
In February of this year, during the Champions League round of 16 match between Portugal’s Benfica and Madrid’s Real Madrid, Argentine Gianluca Prestiani and the “Royal Club’s” star winger Vinícius Júnior got into a spat on the field. The Benfica midfielder covered his mouth and said something to the Real Madrid player. Vinícius, enraged, ran up to the referee and began vigorously trying to convince him of something, pointing toward Prestiani.
The referee did not react at the time, prompting the Brazilian to walk off the field in protest, but he returned shortly afterward, and play resumed.
The incident had further repercussions. Vinícius Júnior and Real Madrid claimed that the Benfica player had used racist language. Prestiani and Benfica denied this, stating that profanity was exchanged by both sides but that there was no racist intent behind it.
In any case, following an investigation, UEFA suspended Prestiani for six matches (three of which are suspended), and FIFA amended the rules so that any conversation with one’s mouth covered on the field will result in a red card.
National traditions will have to be set aside
So the Paraguayan national team player was punished in full accordance with the new rules.
What, then, is the scandal? The fact is that not everyone agrees with the interpretation of FIFA’s new rule. And many in the soccer community are demanding that this “idiotic” rule be scrapped.
It turns out that in some Latin American countries, covering one’s mouth while speaking—especially when the person you’re talking to is standing very close—is perfectly normal. Moreover, it’s considered a sign of good manners. That’s why people in these countries and cultures do it instinctively. This gesture is seen as a sign of politeness and consideration for the person you’re talking to.
In this context, many believe the new rule doesn’t seem entirely well thought out.
But there are also very practical issues to consider. For example, if one player says something rude or even racist to another without covering their mouth, they may go unpunished. Simply because no one will be able to prove that what was said constituted a criminal offense. And the parties involved in the incident will claim the opposite.
At the same time, a player might say nothing but cover his mouth for some reason, and suffer for no reason at all if opponents or referees take notice.
