Miguel Almiron made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, albeit for reasons he would not have anticipated.  The Paraguay winger became the first player to be sent off under FIFA’s new mouth-covering rule during his side’s match against Turkiye, bringing one of football’s newest regulations into the spotlight. A day later, attention shifted to Lionel Messi after videos emerged showing the Argentina captain speaking with his hand covering his mouth.

The clips quickly prompted comparisons between the two incidents, with many fans questioning why Almiron was shown a red card while Messi faced no sanction.

At the centre of the debate is a rule that FIFA introduced ahead of the tournament in an attempt to address a growing concern within the game: the concealment of abusive or discriminatory remarks during confrontations.

A rule born out of a wider concern

The origins of the law can be traced to an incident earlier this year involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni.

During a Champions League match, Vinicius alleged that the Argentine youngster had made discriminatory remarks while concealing his mouth with his shirt. Although the allegation itself remained disputed, the episode reignited discussions over how football authorities should tackle verbal abuse hidden from cameras and lip-readers.

For FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), football’s law-making body, the controversy highlighted an increasingly difficult challenge.

Players have long covered their mouths while speaking, whether to prevent opponents from overhearing tactical instructions or to keep conversations private. Yet governing bodies feared the same practice could also be used to hide abusive or discriminatory language.

In April, IFAB approved a law change allowing referees to issue a straight red card to players who deliberately conceal their mouths during confrontational situations.

What exactly does the law say?

Much of the confusion surrounding Almiron’s dismissal stems from a misunderstanding of the regulation itself.

Contrary to popular perception, players are not prohibited from covering their mouths altogether.

The law applies specifically to confrontations and heated exchanges. Match officials are empowered to dismiss players who deliberately hide what they are saying during arguments or aggressive interactions.

Routine conversations with teammates, coaches or opponents do not constitute an offence.

In other words, covering the mouth is not automatically punishable. Context matters just as much as the gesture itself.

That distinction ultimately explains the different outcomes involving Almiron and Messi.

Almiron becomes the first player punished

The regulation remained largely unnoticed until Paraguay’s meeting with Turkiye.

During the match, Almiron became involved in an exchange with Turkish defender Mert Muldur. Television replays showed the Paraguayan winger covering his mouth while speaking during the confrontation.

Following a VAR review, referee Ivan Barton produced a straight red card, making Almiron the first player to be dismissed under the new law.

The decision immediately generated debate. Some observers viewed it as a straightforward application of a regulation that had been communicated to teams before the tournament. Others questioned whether a straight red card represented too severe a punishment.

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro later defended his player while acknowledging that football’s regulations were evolving.

Why was Messi not sanctioned?

The debate intensified when footage emerged of Messi covering his mouth while speaking during Argentina’s match.

Supporters and critics alike questioned whether the Argentina captain should also have been punished. However, according to FIFA’s interpretation, the two incidents were not viewed in the same light.

Messi was not engaged in a confrontation when the gesture occurred. Since the regulation targets heated exchanges rather than ordinary conversations, match officials did not consider his actions an offence.

For match officials, the absence of a confrontation proved decisive.

The explanation, however, has done little to silence criticism. Detractors argue that the law leaves considerable room for subjective interpretation and could lead to accusations of inconsistency.

Supporters and critics split

As with many recent innovations in football, the new rule has drawn both support and criticism.

Backers argue that it represents another step in the game’s campaign against discrimination and abuse. They point out that players and teams were informed of the change well before the start of the World Cup.

Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine, who serves on FIFPRO’s global player council, said players had been made aware of the regulation and suggested there should be little sympathy for those who breach it.

Others, however, have questioned whether a straight red card is proportionate and raised concerns over the practical difficulties facing referees. Former players and commentators have also highlighted the challenge of distinguishing between routine conversations and confrontational exchanges in the heat of a match.

The debate has inevitably drawn comparisons with other innovations that initially divided opinion before becoming accepted parts of the game.

Football’s latest experiment

World Cups have often served as testing grounds for change. Goal-line technology made its tournament debut in 2014, VAR followed four years later in Russia, while semi-automated offside technology arrived in Qatar in 2022.

Now, the mouth-covering rule has become football’s latest experiment.

Whether it survives in its current form may depend on how events unfold over the coming weeks. If the measure succeeds in discouraging abusive behaviour without generating widespread controversy, FIFA and IFAB may regard it as a success.

But if accusations of inconsistency continue to dominate the conversation, football’s lawmakers could face pressure to refine the wording of the regulation or even reconsider the severity of the punishment.

For now, a rule designed to prevent hidden words has produced an unintended consequence. It has become one of the most visible talking points of the 2026 World Cup.

And in a tournament where every gesture is scrutinised and every decision dissected, the debate over football’s newest law may only just be beginning.

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From the show

World Cup Debrief

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1 min

The evening of football started with quite an unexpected walk in the park for the Netherlands, who beat Sweden 5-1. Germany narrowly avoided a trampling by the Elephants of the Ivory Coast, thanks to a last-minute goal. World Cup newcomers Curaçao got their first world cup point ever thanks to a draw against Ecuador Meanwhile, Japan marked the 1000th World Cup match in style by putting four past Tunisia. Japan sealed Tunisia’s fate in the process, the Eagles of Carthage will be flying home after this group stage.

Manchester City might have given a glimpse into the future in the final weeks of the Premier League campaign with a centre-back pairing of Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov earning a consistent run in the side.

The pair started the FA Cup final together despite the return to fitness of Ruben Dias and the now departed Stones, while they were trusted with the big games in the run-in.

Guehi, 25, is likely to be the bedrock of the City defence for years to come, while 22-year-old Khusanov is growing into one of the brightest defensive prospects in the country.

The fit-again Josko Gvardiol will have eyes on a starting spot come the new season, with the Croatia international having agreed a contract extension at the Etihad after transfer interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid this summer.

Dias also remains at the Etihad and City want to keep the Portugal international, who has also been linked with Real. The 29-year-old is arguably the leading candidate to succeed his countryman Bernardo Silva as club captain and his experience is vital in a dressing room that has lost important leaders this summer.

Nathan Ake makes up the fifth senior centre-back option, but the Dutchman is entering the final year of his contract and is not expected to be offered a renewal. The likelihood is that the 31-year-old will depart this summer in search of regular minutes elsewhere.

That will open up a fifth centre-back spot at City and offer a hint at how the Blues view the clutch of young talent they have at their disposal. City may have sold Jahmai-Simpson-Pusey to FC Koln in Germany but they have plenty of other youngsters on the cusp of first-team football.

Academy prospects Max Alleyne and Stephen Mfuni are the leading lights internally. Both spent time on loan at Watford last season and Alleyne was recalled by City amid a defensive crisis at the Etihad and was parachuted into the senior side. He performed admirably in difficult circumstances, having impressed with the Hornets in the Championship. But another loan spell seems the most likely course for the 20-year-old.

Mfuni also shone at Watford, earning significant praise for his showings before injury curtailed his season. The 18-year-old is highly thought of at the Etihad and has a bright future. Whether that is in Manchester next season remains to be seen, with the Blues having plenty of options, given City will welcome back two highly regarded young talents after loan spells on the continent.

Vitor Reis featured for the Blues in pre-season a year ago and has spent the campaign at sister club Girona in La Liga.

While the campaign ended in relegation for the Blanquivermells, Reis proved himself more than capable of performing in a leading European league, and games against the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona will have done his development the world of good.

The Brazilian cost City £29.6million when he joined the club in January 2025, and he is seen as a future first-team player internally, having already made senior appearances in the FA Cup, Premier League and Club World Cup. He will likely travel to Asia with the first team squad and have the opportunity to impress incoming boss Enzo Maresca and try and force his way into the senior set-up.

That challenge will also be facing Juma Bah, who returns to the Etihad after a year at Nice in France. He was another involved in a relegation battle, but Nice survived after winning an end-of-season play-off against Saint-Étienne.

The 20-year-old made 26 league appearances for Nice as well as playing in the Europa League. Bah has his suitors this summer and logic puts him behind Reis in the City pecking order. But a strong pre-season with the Blues could change plans even if another loan move is the most likely outcome for the Sierra Leone international.

Then there is the new kid on the block in 18-year-old Hermann Malonga, who has arrived at the Etihad from double Champions League winners PSG.

He is likely to slot into City’s Elite Development Squad next season, at a level equivalent to where he has been playing in France, having signed a long-term contract with the Blues. Malonga was out of contract in Paris and has been capped at youth level by France.

The teenager is set to remain with City’s Academy next term as he adjusts to life in Manchester, offering him the chance to showcase his credentials.

Engalnd captain Ben Stokes with coach Brendon McCullum (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: England captain Ben Stokes is set to return for the third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham after missing the second match, which ended in a crushing 253-run defeat for England at The Oval. Head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that Stokes will resume captaincy despite an ongoing disciplinary investigation into a breach of team rules earlier this month.Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson had been left out of the second Test after violating the team’s curfew following England’s victory in the series opener. During his time away from the national side, Stokes turned out for Durham and impressed with a quickfire 95 against Northamptonshire. Both he and Atkinson were later withdrawn from their county games, fuelling speculation of a return.Confirming the skipper’s comeback, McCullum said: “Ben will be back. He’ll be back and he’ll be captain.”“I think everyone is excited about that, especially after seeing him hit some form for Durham.”“I’ve been speaking to Ben every single day since we had the incident and my assessment was that I was worried about him. To see him go out there and play some cricket and look like he was enjoying himself is really positive.“I’m not going to divulge our conversations because they are confidential but it’s great to see him back playing and I look forward to seeing him in a couple of days.”

Relationship questions dismissed

Recent reports suggested tensions had developed between McCullum and Stokes following England’s Ashes defeat and the disciplinary issue. However, the coach insisted their relationship remained strong.“We’ve worked together intimately for four years, we’ve achieved some cool things and we’ve let ourselves down in other things.“We have robust conversations all the way through and that’s to be expected when you’re in positions of leadership. There’s mutual respect there.”McCullum also stressed that mistakes cannot be ignored, saying: “It’s really important to separate the actions from the man… You address it and you try to move on.”Stokes’s return could provide England with a timely boost as they look to bounce back in the series decider.

2010 champions Spain will be looking to secure their first win of the FIFA World Cup 2026 when they take on Saudi Arabia in a Group H match today at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta.

Spain, in their campaign opener, played out a 0-0 draw against debutants Cape Verde, with sub-par performances from strikers Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal. Winger Lamine Yamal was introduced in the 70th minute and created some good scoring chances but was unable to help his team break the deadlock.

Spain will be desperate for a win, as a loss or draw against Saudi Arabia could put them in a troublesome position in the race for Round of 32 qualification.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia are coming into the match with a little more confidence than Spain, as they played out a 1-1 draw against Uruguay. With all four teams tied on one point each, Saudi Arabia will have the chance to create a huge upset if they hold Spain to a draw or somehow manage to secure a win over them.

Spain hope attacking stars can make the difference

Luis de la Fuente’s men enter the contest under pressure after failing to convert their dominance into goals against Cape Verde. Spain enjoyed 74 per cent possession and attempted 27 shots in the opener but lacked the cutting edge required to secure all three points.

The return to full fitness of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams could provide the spark Spain need. Both attackers made substitute appearances in the opener after recovering from hamstring issues and are expected to push for starting roles, potentially replacing Ferran Torres and Gavi. However, Víctor Muñoz remains unavailable with an injury, while Mikel Merino is also doubtful.

Despite the disappointing start, Spain remain among the tournament favourites and will back their possession-based game to unlock the Saudi defence.

Saudi Arabia seek another upset with disciplined approach

Saudi Arabia arrive with renewed confidence after claiming a valuable point against Uruguay. Abdulelah Al Amri’s opener had put the Green Falcons on course for victory before Maxi Araújo’s late equaliser ensured the points were shared.

Coach Georgios Donis is expected to retain the side that impressed in the opening fixture. Captain Salem Al-Dawsari, who has scored 27 goals in 111 appearances for his country, will once again be central to Saudi Arabia’s attacking plans, while Firas Al Buraikan is set to spearhead the frontline.

The Green Falcons earned praise for their organised defensive structure against Uruguay and will likely adopt a similar approach against Spain. Having already shown they can frustrate higher-ranked opponents, Saudi Arabia will be confident of causing another surprise and strengthening their chances of progressing from Group H.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain vs Saudi Arabia: Starting 11

Spain starting 11: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, Alex Baena, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal

Saudi Arabia starting 11: Mohammed Al Owais, Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Al Tambakti, Ali Lajami, Abdullah Al Amri, Nawaf Al-Harbi, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwayr, Ziyad Alkhaibari, Feras Albrikan, Salem Al-Dawsari

FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain vs Saudi Arabia live telecast:

The live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Spain and Saudi Arabia will be available on the Unite8 Sports Network.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain vs Saudi Arabia live streaming:

The live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Spain and Saudi Arabia will be available on the ZEE5 app and website.

Check all the live updates of the Spain vs Saudi Arabia match in FIFA World Cup 2026 here

Man Utd are focusing on the signing of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, but if they miss out on the 21-year-old they might have a new option.

Manchester United have embraced the data revolution under Ineos, but even amid all the numbers and the algorithms, there is still room for good old-fashioned scouting and the eye test, and one potential midfield addition could have a big supporter at Old Trafford.

United are still working on a deal to make Mateus Fernandes their second midfield signing of the summer, with Tottenham providing some competition for a player West Ham value at £80million. If they land Fernandes, United will set their sights lower for a third midfield addition this summer, if required.

But if the deal for Fernandes becomes too expensive, just as Elliot Anderson did when Manchester City made a bid of more than £120million, then alternatives will be sought and reports in Germany have claimed there is interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha.

The 25-year-old is enjoying an excellent World Cup and looks an all-round midfielder that could slot nicely into the United set-up, and he won praise from Gary Neville on ITV during the coverage of Germany’s win against the Ivory Coast.

“The more he plays like he did the other night the more expensive he’ll get,” Neville said. “But at the moment, we hear Manchester United are being quoted £100 million for the West Ham boy Fernandes, so they’re going to have to be looking around this tournament and parts of Europe.

“He looked outstanding the other night, it looked like he had absolutely everything.”

Nmecha has something else going for him at Old Trafford, and that is where the eye test comes in. He spent a dozen years at Manchester City’s academy and was there at the same time as Jason Wilcox.

Wilcox is now United’s director of football, but he was a coach at City’s academy while Nmecha was there and eventually became the head of the academy, so he knows plenty about the German international and was well aware of his talents while at the Etihad.

Nmecha was actually released by City in the summer of 2021, having made just three first-team appearances, but he has gone to another level on his return to the Bundesliga, first with Wolfsburg and now with Dortmund, and if his World Cup continues on this trajectory, he could attract some serious transfer interest this summer.

His brother Lukas has already returned to the Premier League with Leeds, having also been at City. Felix looks like a Premier League midfielder in the making with his strength and running power, and perhaps he will soon return to England as well.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

With the season coming nearly coming to end, Dutton Ranch Season 1 Episode 8 is slated to premiere on June 26, 2026. The penultimate episode will be available to stream on Paramount+ by 3:00 a.m. ET. You can also watch it later that day on Paramount Network at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The first season consists of nine episodes, making this chapter a crucial one before the finale arrives on July 3. The previous episode left several relationships and rivalries in a complicated place as tensions within Rio Paloma continued to affect both the Duttons and those around them.

The upcoming chapter may bring a major collision of internal and external conflicts. Here is what the official logline for Dutton Ranch Season 1 Episode 8 reads:

“A storm shakes Rio Paloma; Beth and Rip’s choices are put to the test; Beulah’s bonds crumble; Joaquin and Will face off; Carter faces a crossroad that might define his future.”

When will Dutton Ranch Season 1 Episode 8 release?

Titled “Whiskey Limits,” Dutton Ranch Season 1 Episode 8 is scheduled to release on Friday, June 26, 2026. It will first become available on Paramount+ at 3:00 a.m. ET, allowing streaming subscribers to watch it before its television debut. Later, the same day, it will air on Paramount Network at 8:00 p.m. ET in the United States.

As Paramount+ releases its episodes simultaneously across the globe, viewers in different regions will receive access at different local times depending on their time zone. Here is the expected release timing for Dutton Ranch Season 1 Episode 8 in different time zones:

• Pacific Time (PT): June 26, 2026, at 12:00 AM
• Mountain Time (MT): June 26, 2026, at 1:00 AM
• Central Time (CT): June 26, 2026, at 2:00 AM
• Eastern Time (ET): June 26, 2026, at 3:00 AM
• Brazil Time (BRT): June 26, 2026, at 4:00 AM
• United Kingdom (BST): June 26, 2026, at 8:00 AM
• Central European Time (CEST): June 26, 2026, at 9:00 AM
• Gulf Standard Time (GST): June 26, 2026, at 11:00 AM
• Indian Standard Time (IST): June 26, 2026, at 12:30 PM
• Philippine Time (PHT): June 26, 2026, at 3:00 PM
• Japan Standard Time (JST): June 26, 2026, at 4:00 PM
• Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): June 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM
• New Zealand Standard Time (NZST): June 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM

Where to watch Dutton Ranch?

You can watch Dutton Ranch on Paramount+ in most regions. For those with traditional cable or live TV streaming platforms like Philo, FuboTV, or YouTube TV can watch Dutton Ranch as it broadcasts on the Paramount Network on Friday evenings at 8:00 PM ET/PT. In Indian region, the series is available on JioHotsar.