Paraguay secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Turkey on Friday in Santa Clara, California, but the result was overshadowed by a red card shown to forward Miguel Almiron.
In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Almiron was sent off after covering his mouth while speaking to Turkey defender Mert Muldur during a confrontation. The dismissal was issued under one of the new FIFA regulations introduced for the 2026 World Cup.
Paraguay held on with 10 men to claim three points, improving its position in Group D. However, Almiron will miss Paraguay's final group-stage match against Australia because of the suspension.
The incident has drawn attention to several rule changes being applied at the tournament.
Here are more details:
*If a referee believes a player or goalkeeper is taking too long to take a goal kick, they will begin a visible five-second countdown using their hand. If the ball has not been put back into play before the countdown expires, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team. The same procedure will apply to throw-ins.
*Any player who is being substituted will have 10 seconds to leave the field. If he fails to do so, the substitute must wait until the first stoppage in play occurring at least one minute later before entering. The same rule applies to injured players. Anyone receiving treatment on the field must leave the pitch and can only return at least one minute after play has restarted.
*Players may not cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents, and if one does so deliberately, he may be sent off. The change follows controversies such as the dispute involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior.
In February, the Real Madrid forward accused his Benfica opponent of making racist remarks, but because the player's mouth was covered, no offence of racism could be proven.
*VAR can now review clearly unjustified second yellow cards, cases of mistaken identity, wrongly awarded corners and attacking fouls before free-kicks or corners that directly affect goals, penalties or disciplinary outcomes.
*A player who leaves the field in protest at a referee's decision may receive a red card, and team officials who encourage players to leave the field in protest against a referee's decision may also be sent off.
This follows the controversy at January's Africa Cup of Nations final where Senegal walked off in protest at a penalty awarded against them in the last minute against hosts Morocco.
Senegal returned after 14 minutes, saw Morocco miss the spot kick and went on to win the match in extra time, only to be subsequently stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football's disciplinary appeal board.
