Miguel Almiron was sent off for covering his mouth against Turkiye. (Image: Getty)
A Paraguayan commentator at the World Cup has had his credentials withdrawn following an extraordinary on-air tirade after Miguel Almiron’s red card, during which he launched a scathing attack on both the referee and FIFA. Paraguay secured a 1-0 victory over Turkey in their second World Cup group fixture, but Almiron made history by becoming the first player ever to receive a red card for covering his mouth during an altercation.
The regulation was introduced to stop players concealing racist, discriminatory or offensive remarks. Almiron broke his silence following the win, expressing gratitude to his team-mates and the Paraguayan federation, but commentator Jorge Vera also found himself facing FIFA sanctions. His incandescent response while providing commentary resulted in his accreditation being stripped for the rest of the World Cup.
Following Almiron’s dismissal from the pitch in a vital encounter, Vera branded Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton a thief, before directing his fury towards FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Thief, thief, Barton. They killed football. FIFA, you killed football,” Vera declared on air. “Infantino, you’re responsible for this.”
The commentator pressed on, stating: “FIFA, take responsibility for turning football into this. A disgrace. You should be ashamed, Infantino.” His explosive rant did not end there, as Vera then targeted CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez. “Alejandro Domínguez, less photos with Infantino. Grow a pair. You f—— thieves!”
Vera went on to challenge FIFA’s new rule, leaping to Almiron’s defence in the process.”What kind of racism could Miguel Almiron possibly use against the Turkish player? Show me some common sense,” he said.
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The explosive live commentary has cost Vera his accreditation for the remainder of the tournament – a devastating blow, particularly as Paraguay managed to secure a 1-0 victory and keep their knockout stage hopes very much alive.
Nevertheless, Paraguayan broadcaster ABC Cardinal, which Vera represents, has released a comprehensive statement urging FIFA to reconsider its stance. The network argues that, given the incident was isolated and was swiftly followed by an apology and an acknowledgement of wrongdoing, FIFA ought to take a more lenient approach.
Miguel Almiron was shown a red card for covering his mouth. (Image: Getty)
Within their eight-point statement, they wrote: “We believe that the permanent cancellation of a credential for the entire duration of the tournament constitutes an extreme and manifestly disproportionate sanction for a primary infraction that was immediately acknowledged, for which formal apologies and concrete mechanisms for redress were offered.
“The apologies were presented, the error was admitted, and corrective measures were immediately implemented… Correcting errors is necessary. So is ensuring that sanctions are reasonable, proportionate, and compatible with basic principles of justice.”
The statement continued, “No sanction should disregard a professional career based on an isolated incident that has been acknowledged and rectified. We trust that FIFA will review its decision and allow proportionality and dialogue to lead us to justice.”
Following the revocation of his credentials, Vera released a video on social media, apologised for losing control, and voiced his remorse regarding the personal attacks directed at the referee and FIFA.
Vera said, via a translation: “To the public opinion. During the live transmission of the Paraguay-Turkey match, in the heat of the moment and the tension of the broadcast, I made comments that exceeded the limits.
“I used strong expressions and personal attacks against the referee and FIFA officials, which I deeply regret. I recognize that I went too far with my words. I have already sent a formal note of rectification and apologies directly to the FIFA accreditation team, acknowledging the verbal excess caused by the pressure of the live broadcast.
“I want to apologize publicly to FIFA, to the refereeing team, to my colleagues, and especially to the audience for any offense my words may have caused. It was never my intention to attack anyone personally. I got carried away in the emotion of the moment. I take full responsibility for my mistake. Thank you.”