Sports
Messi spared, Almiron sanctioned: FIFA’s mouth-covering rule sparks debate | FIFA World Cup 2026
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.
UEFA has announced its opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to open the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors. At an emergency meeting, UEFA’s 55 member associations unanimously voted to withdraw from the World Cup should the reform be adopted.
Also in this edition:
In the transfer market, France defender Maxence Lacroix has officially joined Chelsea. Matthis Abline has strengthened Monaco‘s attack, while Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement with the principality’s club to sign Maghnes Akliouche. Meanwhile, Lens’ Malian midfielder Mamadou Sangaré is on the verge of completing a move to Brentford.
In fencing, France were crowned men’s team sabre world champions on the final day of the World Championships in Hong Kong.
In basketball, Sylvain Francisco left ASVEL just one month after joining the club to sign for Panathinaikos.
Finally, AS Monaco are expected to return to the Betclic Elite after the French Basketball Federation approved the club’s new takeover plan.
Meanwhile, a boxer from Tuvalu claimed her country’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal without winning a fight.
Because there were only five entrants, Tarona Taafaki received a bye to the last four, meaning she was automatically guaranteed at least a bronze medal.
The 20-year-old lost her first and only fight in the women’s 75kg division – which was a semi-final – to India’s Lovlina Borgohain on Friday, losing every round on all three of the judges’ cards.
Taafaki’s coach and father, Badi Taafaki, says the population of the tiny Pacific island nation – at 10 square miles the fourth smallest in the world – will celebrate the medal and use it to highlight a climate change emergency.
“For the people of Tuvalu, this medal means everything,” he said. “We’re one of the smallest nations in the world, so a medal like this is hugely significant.
“If we can win medals, more people around the world will recognise Tuvalu and begin to understand the challenges we face because of climate change.
“It is very real for us. The coastal erosion is unbelievable, and the countdown is now measured in years, not decades.”
Sports
Injured Tejaswin Shankar scripts history; becomes first Indian to win decathlon medal in Commonwealth Games | Commonwealth Games News
Tejaswin Shankar became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s decathlon after battling a long-standing knee injury to claim bronze in Glasgow on Friday.The national record holder finished with a total of 7,976 points in the 10-event competition, which is held over two days. He competed despite dealing with chronic patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee, an injury that had forced him to withdraw from the men’s high jump event earlier in the Games.The 27-year-old was left emotional after having to pull out of the high jump following his opening attempt because of the injury flare-up.This was Tejaswin’s second Commonwealth Games medal after winning bronze in the men’s high jump at the 2022 Birmingham Games. His national record in the decathlon stands at 8,057 points.Tejaswin, who also won silver in the decathlon at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, ended the opening day in second place after five events, behind Canada’s Damian Warner.He moved into third after the ninth event, the javelin throw, and held on to that position after finishing fifth in the 1,500m, the final event of the competition.Grenada’s Lindon Victor, the Paris Olympics bronze medallist, won the gold with 8,096 points, while Warner took the silver with 8,036 points.“I don’t know if it was adversity or not. But I do know that the competitiveness in me is alive, and in these conditions and environment, I got the kick and the competitiveness,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.“I feel good to be in that position where I want to chase something but it is not guaranteed (to get success or not). I feel I am an adrenalin junkie … I was enjoying the challenge, when I was standing for the 1500m (the last of the 10 events).”“I will try to get that feeling back, get fitter and healthier and go and try to win gold in the Asian Games.”
Twenty-year-old Tarona Taafaki has secured Tuvalu’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal in Glasgow despite not winning a single fight.
Competing in the women’s 75kg division, which only have five entrants, Taafaki was guaranteed at least a bronze as she was given a bye directly into the semi-finals.
She lost her opening bout on Friday to India’s Lovlina Borgohain, with judges unanimously scoring every round against her.
But as per competition rules, both semifinal losers were awarded bronze medals.
Her coach and father stated the medal would be celebrated by the population of the 10-square-mile nation – the world’s fourth smallest – and serve to highlight a climate change emergency.
Badi Taafaki, whose son Pasoni also competed earlier in the Games, losing his opening bout at 70kg earlier this week, told the Press Association: “For the people of Tuvalu, this medal means everything.
“We’re one of the smallest nations in the world, so a medal like this is hugely significant. We have worked so hard to get here. For me as a coach, it’s a stepping stone.”
Tarona and Pasoni are the two oldest of eight children, all of whom are boxers. They are currently based in New Zealand, in order to take advantage of better facilities.
“When I was growing up, boxing barely existed in Tuvalu,” said Badi. “We didn’t have gloves, so we were forced to fight bare-knuckle, and hit bags filled with sand.
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“My children have very fortunate. They have opportunities and facilities that I never had. Boxing is our whole life. Strength is in our bloodline. It’s where our genealogy comes from.”
Athletes on the island famously train on its airport runway, the most stable land mass on an island increasingly threatened by rising sea levels. Climate experts predict half of the nation’s capital, Funafuti, could be submerged by 2050.
“Yes, we train on the airport runway,” said Taafaki. “When a plane comes in, everyone moves aside. As soon as it leaves, we go back on the tarmac, because there is nowhere else to train.
“If we can win medals, more people around the world will recognise Tuvalu and begin to understand the challenges we face because of climate change.
“It is very real for us. The coastal erosion is unbelievable, and the countdown is now measured in years, not decades.
“Some islands have lost half their land. At high tide the sea comes right through. People living on the coast can’t sleep if there’s a storm, because the waves can come straight through their homes.”
Taafaki has big ambitions for his children, and for the future of the sport in Tuvalu. It was officially confirmed as a full member of World Boxing in 2024, allowing its boxers to fight in competitions organised by the Oceania Boxing Confederation.
“The biggest thing we are missing is the exposure,” added Taafaki. “You can only improve by fighting world class fighters. But we would like to go to the Olympics. The Olympics are the pinnacle of the sport, and that’s what all these kids are working towards.”
Taafaki is not the first boxer to win a Commonwealth Games medal without winning a fight. Australia’s Taylah Robertson picked up a bronze in the women’s flyweight category on the Gold Coast in 2018 despite losing her first bout to England’s Lisa Whiteside.
Sports
Asmita Dey, Harsh script history with India’s 1st-ever judo CWG gold medals | Other Sports News
India celebrated a landmark day in its sporting history on Friday as Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh became the country’s first-ever Commonwealth Games judo champions, winning gold medals in their respective categories at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.
Asmita opened the floodgates by defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s -48kg final before Harsh followed it up with a commanding victory over Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s -60kg final.
Their triumphs not only delivered India its maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo but doubled that tally within hours, marking the country’s most successful day ever in the sport at the Games.
Asmita Dey breaks new ground
The 22-year-old scripted history by becoming the first Indian judoka to stand atop the Commonwealth Games podium after edging Heidi Quach 2-1 by Yuko in a tense women’s -48kg final.
The contest began cautiously with both judokas locked in a tactical battle around the edge of the mat. Quach struck first midway through the bout with a well-executed throw, but Asmita responded immediately after receiving a Shido penalty, producing a sharp throw of her own to level the scores.
As the contest wore on, the Indian gradually asserted herself, constantly forcing Quach onto the defensive with aggressive attacks while maintaining her composure whenever the Canadian threatened.
With neither athlete able to find a decisive breakthrough in regulation time, the final entered Golden Score, where Asmita once again showed remarkable composure. A perfectly timed throw near the edge of the mat earned the winning Yuko and sparked jubilant celebrations from the Indian contingent.
The victory ended India’s long wait for a Commonwealth Games judo champion and established Asmita as one of the defining stories of Glasgow 2026.
Harsh Singh follows with second historic gold
If Asmita opened the door, Harsh Singh ensured Indian judo kicked it wide open.
The Indian judoka defeated Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s -60kg final to secure India’s second Commonwealth Games judo gold medal—making it two historic titles on the same day.
Harsh had looked impressive throughout the competition and carried that confidence into the final. Displaying excellent control and tactical awareness, he neutralised the Australian’s attacks before producing the decisive scoring move to seal victory and join Asmita in the history books.
Earlier in the day, Harsh had reached the final with a dominant Waza-ari victory over Australia’s Pedro Carlos Antun Neto, confirming India’s second medal in judo before going one better by claiming gold.
A watershed day for Indian judo
For decades, India had never produced a Commonwealth Games judo champion.
That statistic has now been erased in emphatic fashion.
Within a few hours, Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh rewrote Indian judo history, delivering the country’s first and second Commonwealth Games gold medals in the sport.
Their victories also underline India’s growing depth in judo, with the national contingent producing several medal contenders across different weight categories in Glasgow.
Yamini Mourya eyes historic treble
India’s extraordinary day on the judo mat could yet become even more memorable.
Yamini Mourya remains in contention for the women’s -57kg gold medal, having stormed into the final with a dominant ippon victory over South Africa’s Donne Breytenbach in just 1 minute and 38 seconds.
Should Yamini also clinch gold, India would complete an unprecedented hat-trick of Commonwealth Games judo titles on a day that has already transformed the country’s history in the sport.
From having never won a Commonwealth Games gold in judo to producing two champions in a single day—with a third still in contention—Glasgow 2026 has become a defining chapter for Indian judo.
Toulouse had scored 106 points in their past two away trips, including a 46-0 whitewash of St Helens, but it was their turn to be scoreless on this occasion and they remain ninth after a 14th defeat of the campaign.
Ned McCormack was denied a sixth-minute score for Leeds in a stop-start opening when video referee Liam Rush spotted Chris Hankinson’s knock-on.
But the Rhinos had the lead after 12 minutes when Connor dummied and cut back inside to score following Lumb’s break.
Super League’s leading points scorer this season was involved again as he teed up Oledzki to power over from close range.
Without injured playmaker Olly Ashall-Bott and fielding six academy graduates, Toulouse could not capitalise on good positions, with Tiaki Chan’s surge halted five metres short after Luke Polselli’s brilliant one-handed offload.
And Leeds pulled further clear when Presley Cassell’s fine offload gave Holroyd a simple finish under the posts.
The hosts began the second half with more intent and within minutes, quick ball through the hands saw Croft send in McDonnell for his fifth try in three games.
Holroyd was held up over the line, while last-ditch defence denied Jarrod O’Connor and Lumb as Toulouse, to their credit, continued to fight.
But the incessant pressure told when Newman, playing just his third game on the wing in place of the injured Maika Sivo, went in at the right corner.
Connor, the 2025 Man of Steel, leapt high to grab Lachlan Miller’s pinpoint kick under the posts and register his second score.
With the game long since won, Leeds rang the changes but still pressed for more.
Croft sniped through a gap for his 24th Super League try of the season, and Lumb finished in the left corner, before Connor’s touchline conversion typified a clinical all-round display from the leaders.
Leeds: Miller; Lumb, McCormack, Bird, Newman; Croft, Connor; Oledzki, O’Connor, Jenkins, Hankinson, McDonnell, Watkins.
Interchanges: Smith, Lloyd, Cassell, Holroyd.
Toulouse: Polselli; Laguerre, Tropis, Quai-Ward, Ulberg; Collin, Rouge; Butler, Marion, Belmas, O’Kane, Jassaume, Cator.
Interchanges: Garrigues, Chan, Toleafoa, Wallace.
Referee: Tara Jones.
Remember tight end Gavin Bartholomew? The Pittsburgh alumnus got snagged in the 6th Round of the 2025 NFL Draft but spent his entire rookie season in the infirmary due to injury.
Healthy at last, Bartholomew is making a positive impression.
Consider the update on the Vikings young fella courtesy of Alec Lewis of The Athletic: “Semi-random Vikings camp takeaway, but I thought TE Gavin Bartholomew looked really good. Made two impressive over the middle catches. Moved well. First time really seeing him out there after back injury happened last year.”
Vikings Young Fella Shines Early
Since August hasn’t yet arrived, all of the fringe roster players have a long way to go before fully securing a job. Bartholomew isn’t going to be any different, but there’s something to be said for starting strong.
Last year, Minnesota leaned on TE1 T.J. Hockenson and TE2 Josh Oliver for hearty workloads. Most of the time, the TE3 was Ben Yurosek, the UDFA tight end with great hustle as a blocker. There was then a turn toward Nick Vannett and Ben Sims when there was a desire for more help. C.J. Ham wasn’t a fullback but he was a rugged guy who could do dirty work when there was a desire for some added meanness.
As things stand, the TE hierarchy could look as follows:
- TE1 T.J. Hockenson
- TE2 Josh Oliver
- TE3/4 Ben Yurosek
- TE3/4 Gavin Bartholomew
- TE5 Bryson Nesbit
- TE6 Marshall Lang
Complicating matters is the presence of rookie fullback Max Bredeson. He looks like a nice piece of the puzzle since he got moved around so much at Michigan. In fact, the folks at PFF graded him as a tight end since he earned so many snaps in that spot. Do the Vikings opt for a similar strategy? If so, then that muddies the water a bit for the depth tight ends.
Check out what Lance Zierlein had to say in his pre-draft scouting report: “Tight end prospect with a broad upper body, muscular arms and adequate demeanor to block. Bartholomew will primarily function as an in-line tight end but can be set in action as a move blocker when needed. He’s unspectacular as an athlete with soft hands and an average catch radius. His block aggression is admirable, but Bartholomew will need to get stronger and improve his block sustain to make a roster.”
Losing a season is far from ideal. What would nevertheless be encouraging is if Gavin Bartholomew found a way to begin addressing the shortcomings in his game.
At minimum, the sophomore should be coming back with a good understanding of the scheme. Spending a season focusing on the mental component of things has the potential of allowing him to play fast since he had so much runway to digest the vocabulary, grind film, and so on. Plus, he’s been able to sit back and watch a pair of great vets in Hockenson and Oliver go to work.
Next up for him is going to be ability to do the little things well. Being a monster on specials would be a nice boost, especially if he’s capable of both blocking and tackling. Matt Daniels could then insert the good-sized Vikings young fella with regularity.
Meanwhile, Kevin O’Connell will want somebody who competes like a madman when it comes time to block. Doing so will keep the defense honest since it has to respect a tight end who can bully linebackers and/or defensive backs in the ground game.
And, to be sure, there’s room for catching a pass or two. Nobody expects the kid to be Steve Jordan. If he is, then that’s a nice bonus but something that could only be proven over several years. The focus for the present moment rests in doing the little things well.
Gavin Bartholomew, 23, stands at 6’5″ and weighs 250 pounds. He was a teammate of Jordan Addison in university.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Apr 12, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Wizards forward Jamir Watkins (5) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. (9) during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Second-year forward Jamir Watkins could miss the 2026-27 season for the Washington Wizards after undergoing surgery to reconstruct his torn left ACL.
The Wizards said Watkins underwent surgery on Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. It was performed by Dr. Riley J. Williams III, the chief of the hospital’s Sports Medicine Institute.
The 6-foot-6 Watkins was a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Florida State, and he signed a two-way contract with the Wizards before the 2025-26 season.
He appeared in 50 games as a rookie, starting seven. He averaged 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 20.6 minutes per game.
Watkins, 25, suffered the knee injury on July 9 in the Wizards’ first game of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Playing against the Utah Jazz and guarding No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson, Watkins slipped and fell to the court, clutching his left knee, at the 8:40 mark of the first game. He returned to play almost 20 total minutes but did not appear in another Summer League game.
The Wizards added 2026 No. 1 draft pick AJ Dybantsa from BYU as well as a former first overall selection, Deandre Ayton. They also will look for injury-free seasons from veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis, acquired last season in trades.
Davis played in just 20 games last season with the Dallas Mavericks due to hand and groin injuries. He did not play with the Wizards after the trade. Young appeared in 10 games for the Atlanta Hawks and five for the Wizards, limited by lower back and right quad ailments.
–Field Level Media
- Alex Eala eyes another victory over No. 2 seed Elina Svitolina, this time at the 2026 Mubadala DC Open quarterfinals.
Mubadala DC Open schedule
August 1, Saturday
- 6:30am (PH time) – Alex Eala vs Elina Svitolina
LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Elina Svitolina – 2026 Mubadala DC Open quarterfinals
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Tomorrow’s night session is absolute 🔥 #MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/2u3AAELgI9
— Mubadala DC Open (@mubadaladcopen) July 31, 2026
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11-Year-Old British Indian Bodhana Sivanandan Chases More History At British Chess Championships
Legendary Garry Kasparov once described India’s young chess stars as “Vishy’s children on the loose.” Today, that phenomenon extends well beyond India’s borders. When the 112th British Chess Championships begin in Coventry on Saturday, one of the leading contenders will be 11-year-old WIM Bodhana Sivanandan. Representing England, the daughter of Indian-origin parents starts the tournament as the favourite for the British Women’s Championship with several milestones within reach.
Bodhana has already broken age records at the event. At last year’s championships in Liverpool, she became the youngest girl to defeat a grandmaster. Earlier this year, she became the youngest girl to beat a grandmaster rated above 2600, adding another landmark to a career that has advanced rapidly over the past two seasons.
Coventry offers another opportunity.
A strong performance would earn Bodhana the final norm required for the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title, making her the youngest British player to achieve it. She is also the favourite to win the British Women’s Championship. A victory here would make her the youngest champion in the event’s history, breaking a record that has stood since 1939.
She also has a chance to finish the week as Britain’s top-rated female player.
Bodhana begins the tournament with a FIDE rating of 2303, five points behind WGM Lan Yao, England’s highest-rated woman. A strong result over nine rounds could move her to the top of the national rankings.
Her progress has been marked by consistency as much as individual results. Rather than relying on a single breakthrough performance, she has continued to improve against stronger opposition and has added major milestones almost every season.
The Open championship will include several established grandmasters as well as another Indian-origin player, teenage GM Shreyas Royal, who is among the title contenders.
Even so, much of the attention in Coventry is expected to centre on Bodhana and the records she could break.
Her rise also reflects the growing influence of India’s chess culture beyond the country itself.
Although Bodhana represents England, she belongs to the generation that has emerged after Viswanathan Anand’s success and during the rise of world champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
India’s strength in junior chess has also had an impact in Britain, where players from Indian families have become a regular presence in national age-group competitions. That trend was evident at last year’s British Championships, with players of Indian origin featuring prominently across the junior sections.
If Bodhana wins the British Women’s title, she will become the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. It would add another record to a career that continues to develop at an unusually early age while highlighting the wider influence of India’s chess boom on the international game.
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