A controversial moment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has left one Paraguayan broadcaster without credentials, following an on-air outburst over a historic red card that made tournament history. During Paraguay’s 1-0 group stage win against Turkey, Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón made history as the first player in World Cup — and men’s senior international football — to receive a red card for covering his mouth while talking to an opponent.
The incident unfolded deep into first-half stoppage time, when Almirón, 32, held his hand up to obscure his mouth while exchanging words with Turkey defender Mert Muldur. Muldur immediately flagged the interaction to nearby match referee Ivan Barton, prompting a review from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team. After a short review, Barton issued a red card to Almirón, sending the Paraguayan playmaker off before the halftime break.
The call triggered an immediate, unfiltered response from Jorge Vera, a veteran commentator working for Paraguayan media outlets ABC Cardinal Radio and ABC TV. Live on air, Vera launched into an expletive-laden tirade against FIFA, tournament president Gianni Infantino, and referee Barton, calling the officials and governing body “thieves” and accusing them of “killing football” with the controversial decision.
Four days after the incident, FIFA confirmed it had stripped Vera of his World Cup media credentials, a sanction that bars him from any form of World Cup-related coverage for his employers, both inside stadiums and in remote broadcast settings. Vera has since publicly apologized for his outburst, taking full responsibility for his loss of composure in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
“In the midst of my frustration over the expulsion of a player from my country, and feeling that my national team was being harmed, I used offensive and unacceptable expressions against the referee, FIFA, and its authorities,” Vera wrote in his statement. The commentator added that he had submitted a formal letter of apology to FIFA’s governing body, acknowledging that his reaction crossed professional lines.
“Questioning a rule or disagreeing with a refereeing decision never justifies losing control the way I did,” he added. “I failed you in something fundamental: maintaining the composure and respect that this profession requires.”
FIFA has not issued an official public statement on the sanction, but anonymous sources close to the governing body told reporters that Vera’s actions were deemed incompatible with the core standards of professionalism and respect required of all accredited media personnel and partners covering the tournament. The historic red card for Almirón has already sparked widespread debate among fans, players, and pundits over the enforcement of FIFA’s unsportsmanlike conduct rules, with many arguing the punishment was overly harsh for a relatively minor infraction.