Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron will serve a one-match suspension following a red card he received for covering his mouth during a World Cup match, a first in the tournament’s history. FIFA announced on Tuesday that Almiron will miss Paraguay’s final group stage game against Australia on Thursday. The decision is final and cannot be appealed.

The incident occurred late in the first half of Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkey last Friday. Almiron was sent off after officials determined he violated new regulations prohibiting players from covering their mouths during on-field confrontations, a rule introduced to prevent players from concealing their speech. The updated guidelines mandate an immediate dismissal for such infractions.

The rule change followed a high-profile incident last season in a Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica, prompting FIFA president Gianni Infantino to champion the legislation. This new enforcement aims to increase transparency and fair play during matches by reducing opportunities for unsanctioned communication among players.

Almiron’s suspension comes at a critical juncture as Paraguay prepares to face Australia in their final group fixture, with the team’s advancement hopes now affected by his absence.