SAN FRANCISCO (USA) (ITALPRESS) – It has already been dubbed the “Vinicius rule,” and it was applied during the match between Turkey and Paraguay in San Francisco. Miguel Almirón was sent off by Salvadoran referee Barton—following a VAR review—for saying something to an opponent, Müldür, while holding his hand over his mouth.
This marks the debut of a new regulation introduced by FIFA and IFAB, stemming from the controversy surrounding the Prestianni-Vinicius incident in the Champions League. During the match between Benfica and Real Madrid last February, the Argentine player was accused of insulting his rival while covering his mouth with his jersey; he received a three-match ban plus a suspended three-match ban, as the UEFA disciplinary committee accepted Prestianni’s version of events (acknowledging an insult but ruling it was homophobic rather than racist, thereby rejecting the racism charge leveled by Vinicius). To prevent similar situations from recurring, FIFA took decisive action, working with IFAB to draft a rule prohibiting players from covering their mouths while speaking to an opponent—an offense punishable by a red card. Almirón was the first player to fall foul of this new rule.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
