Miguel Almirón received 1 game suspension; athlete is the 1st person punished by the “Vini Jr Law.” in World Cup
Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón was suspended for one match by FIFA after covering his mouth with his hand during the Paraguay football team’s match against Turkey, on Friday (June 20, 2026), in the group stage of the World Cup. The punishment was announced by the entity this Tuesday (June 23, 2026) and there is no appeal.
The expulsion was in stoppage time of the 1st half. Salvadoran referee Iván Barton was called by the VAR (video assistant referee) after Almirón covered his mouth while saying something to Müldür. After the VAR press conference, the referee gave the Paraguayan a red card.
The player became the caller, a rule created by Ifab (International Football Association Board), in April this year, to combat gestures considered discriminatory or provocative during matches.
The rule determines punishment for players who use gestures or speech to provoke opponents in situations considered offensive. The measure was implemented after an episode involving the Real Madrid striker and Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match in February.
With the suspension, Almirón will not be able to play in the last round of Group D, when Paraguay faces Australia next week. The match will define whether the Paraguayan team advances to the round of 16 of the competition.
“LEI VINI JR”
In addition to the rule about not covering your mouth during discussions, the “Vini Jr Law” became an umbrella name for a series of measures created to combat racism and racial insults in sports arenas and stadiums. While one is being processed, states such as Bahia, in addition to the Federal District, have already approved and sanctioned their own versions of the Vini Jr. Law, applying the rules locally.
In Brazil, the main rule determines the immediate stoppage of a match the moment racist conduct is detected or reported. If the prejudiced behavior persists or is practiced by a large group of people, the game may be definitively terminated. In addition, arenas are obliged to carry out educational campaigns, displaying anti-racist messages on big screens, sound systems and information posters before and during competitions.
Outside of Brazil, the scenario faces political resistance in Europe. The Parliament of Portugal, in June this year, passed a similar bill that would toughen penalties against racism in sport.
