Paraguay Protests FIFA’s Inconsistent Enforcement After Bellingham’s Mouth-Covering Incident

Paraguay’s football association has filed a formal complaint with FIFA after Jude Bellingham avoided a red card for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent in England’s draw with Ghana. Under new World Cup rules, covering the mouth during a confrontation is an automatic red card offence. Paraguay point to the dismissal of Miguel Almirón for the same breach in their win over Turkey and argue the rule must apply equally to all teams. FIFA insists the rule promotes respect and transparency, with president Gianni Infantino emphasising that “if you have nothing to hide, you don’t cover your mouth when you speak.” Paraguay want FIFA to clarify and enforce the directive consistently. Almirón’s red card rules him out of Paraguay’s final group match against Australia, and the protest could intensify debate over VAR decisions and fair play at the tournament.

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.