Note: This is story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily newsletter on all things World Cup. To subscribe, click here.
You’re still thinking about the USA potentially winning the World Cup, aren’t you? Well, that’s going to have to wait a while longer because we’ve got plenty of games to think about until the USA’s next group match.
Spain is back in action today which means we might get a proper look at Lamine Yamal. The teenager will be desperate to start the match as his nation looks to recover from that shocking draw in its first game. Plus, because its Father’s Day, we have a special shoutout to a new dad over in the Norway squad.
But first, it’s time to whip out the rulebook and get studying the new rules in play at this year’s World Cup.
The Main Thing: Why a player was sent off for covering his mouth
We understand that some people reading this newsletter are dipping their toes into the sport for the first time and might still be learning some of the game’s more confusing nuances. But fear not: even we soccer natives are trying to catch up with a host of new rules introduced for this summer’s tournament.
For example, a lot of fans were a bit confused on Friday after watching Miguel Almiron be sent off in the first half of Paraguay’s win against Turkey.
At first glance, it was hard to see what the Paraguayan midfielder had done. He hadn’t fouled anyone, nor had he been involved in any physical confrontation with an opponent. And yet, just before halftime, referee Ivan Barton showed him a red card.
It wasn’t until we saw the replays that we realized that Almiron had actually made history, albeit unwanted, by becoming the first player to receive a red card for covering his mouth.
On the face of it, this new law might seem a bit strange, but it actually serves a distinct purpose. FIFA decided that, starting at this World Cup, a player could be sent off for “covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent.”
Almiron did just that, exchanging what appeared to be slightly heated words with Turkey’s Mert Mulder while putting his hand over his mouth.
But the question you’re probably asking is why such a seemingly innocent action warrants such a serious punishment. Well, it all stems back to a Champions League game in February.
In that controversial match, Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior had alleged that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni had racially insulted him. Replays showed Prestianni saying something to Madrid forward but, because he had covered his mouth, it was impossible to know what exactly he said.
It prompted FIFA to push through this new rule which hopes to prevent players from hiding their insults. It hopefully means that the appropriate punishment could be handed out depending on what a player says.
It’s important to note that there was no suggestion that Almiron had used racial language on Friday, but the winger fell afoul of the new law. You’d think that would be enough of a lesson to prevent others from doing the same.
That is just one of several new rules introduced for this World Cup. In truth, there are too many to list here, but these are some examples.
Players can now be sent off if they leave the pitch in protest of a refereeing decision (shoutout to the insane Africa Cup of Nations final for that one).
There are now five-second countdowns for goal kicks and throw-ins to stop time-wasting. If a player runs out of time on a throw-in, possession flips to the opponent. If they run out of time on a goal kick, the opposition is awarded a corner.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) also has plenty of new powers, including the ability to overturn an incorrectly awarded corner kick.
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