Australia's Jackson Irvine has expressed full support for FIFA's decision to issue red cards to players who cover their mouths while speaking, following Paraguay winger Miguel Almirón's historic dismissal against Turkey. The incident occurred during a crucial Group D match, setting the stage for a decisive clash between the Socceroos and Paraguay on Thursday (Friday AEST) at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
Almirón's Red Card and FIFA's New Rule
Almirón became the first player sent off under a new FIFA regulation introduced for the 2026 World Cup, targeting the practice of footballers covering their mouths when confronting opponents. The rule aims to curb offensive or discriminatory comments that cannot be captured by cameras or microphones. As a result, Almirón will be suspended for Paraguay's final group match, giving the Socceroos a potential advantage.
Irvine, a member of Fifpro's global player council, stated that players were adequately informed about the rule beforehand and that it is justified. "I know it's going to be controversial in some ways because we don't know the nature of what [the comment] was, but when you look at what's happened in the past, especially around what happened with Vinícius Júnior, I think it takes everything out of the equation," he said.
Background and Justification
The highest-profile example of such conduct occurred earlier this year when Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni made comments to Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior while covering his mouth with his shirt. Although the referee did not send Prestianni off during the Champions League match, and video evidence could not be used to assess the incident, he was later banned for six matches for using homophobic language. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), responsible for the laws of the game, approved the introduction of a red card for such behavior in April.
Irvine emphasized that Almirón has no grounds for complaint. "If you're saying something to someone that you don't want to be seen, then I think it's safe to say that if you can't be seen saying it, then it shouldn't be said," he said. "For me, it's a clear line on the rule, and we were all told about it, so it is what it is."
Group D Showdown: Socceroos vs. Paraguay
Despite Almirón's absence, Paraguay enters the fixture with momentum after a 1-0 victory over Turkey. They need to defeat the Socceroos to leapfrog them into second place in Group D. A loss for either team would result in a tense wait to see if they progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups. Australia has never beaten a South American side at a World Cup, and Irvine expects a physical, skillful, and unpredictable opponent.
"Watching Paraguay against Turkey last night, there was a sequence towards the end of the game that sums up their style of football," Irvine said. "It was with about five minutes to go, and they had won the ball back high up the pitch, and they had a chance to go to the corner. The guy just whips the cross into the back stick with three guys, and they try and score again with 10 men and they're 1-0 up. Expect the unexpected. I guess that's probably the best way to put it."
Socceroos' Areas for Improvement
Irvine acknowledged that the Socceroos need to start better against Paraguay than they did against the USA. "The main thing that we have to get better from the first half is just being able to come into the duels and arrive – in the physical side of the game – a little bit better, and ride through those difficult moments," he said. "We're playing against top teams at the highest level, but they're going to have moments where you're going to have to defend and we're going to have to suffer and you've got to find ways to get through that."
