The match between Turkey and Paraguay was highly charged, with referee Ivan Barton’s distinctive officiating style polarizing viewers.
Turkey’s 0-1 loss to Paraguay, resulting in their early exit from the tournament, was filled with the full spectrum of footballing emotions. The game also saw a rare red card for covering one’s mouth, and referee Ivan Barton himself was a focal point, almost a reason to tune in.
In the dying moments of the first half, amidst a passionate and heated encounter, a scuffle broke out. Paraguay had taken a 1-0 lead in the second minute, and Turkey was desperately pushing for an equalizer to avoid premature elimination.
During the commotion, Miguel Almirón and Mert Müldür clashed. It’s believed that Almirón whispered unsavory remarks to his Turkish counterpart behind his hand.
Covering Mouth Prohibited: New FIFA Rule Applied for the First Time
This incident did not go unnoticed. Referee Barton was prompted by the VAR to review the monitor and subsequently issued a red card to Almirón for his transgression.
This marked a historic moment, as it was the first red card issued under a new rule approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in April for the tournament in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The rule strictly prohibits covering one’s mouth to prevent potential racist abuse on the field.
The impetus for this rule change stemmed from an incident involving Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica Lisbon, who was accused of racially abusing Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid during a Champions League playoff match, and allegedly covered his mouth with his jersey during the exchange.
Jonas Hofmann: ‘Everyone is warned now, at the very least’
«The rule is clear. There’s a scuffle, aggression, and then a player does exactly what is already clearly regulated,» explained former referee Patrick Ittrich on MagentaTV. «Then you have to ask the player what’s going through their mind. It’s an impulse.»
Former national player Jonas Hofmann believes this will serve as a significant warning. «Everyone is warned now, at the very least. This scenario had to happen for everyone to truly be warned,» said the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, who finds the rule sensible. «You don’t exchange pleasantries there. I’ve never put my hand in front of my mouth to say, ‘Hey, you’re pretty cool.’ It’s bad trash talk that we don’t want to hear.»
It wasn’t just the first application of the new rule that put referee Barton in the spotlight. The 35-year-old, who made his World Cup debut officiating the 2022 group stage match between Germany and Japan in Qatar (1-2), generated both admiration and bewilderment on social media with his authoritative demeanor.
His rapid-fire explanation for the red card has the potential to go viral: «AFTER REVIEW, NUMBER 10 PARAGUAY COVERED HIS MOUTH. DECISION IS RED CARD!»
Barton vs. Gill: ‘He was really going for it, that fellow sportsman’
His approach towards Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill also sparked discussions. Barton emphatically denied the 26-year-old a treatment break, urging him to continue playing.
«It was a very heated game. The referee has a certain underlying emotionality. You could see that in his announcement. He was really going for it, that fellow sportsman,» Ittrich commented. Barton’s officiating may have contributed to «making the game even more emotional.»
Overall, however, Ittrich, who has officiated 94 Bundesliga matches in his career, liked Barton’s performance. «But there were also other situations where I thought: He actually did quite well. He had his own agenda. In the end, it turned out well.»
While Turkey has no chance of advancing after their second loss in as many games, everything is still possible for Paraguay. In their final group stage match, the South Americans will face Australia, with both teams currently on three points. The USA has already qualified for the Round of 16 with two wins from two matches.