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FIFA live: Red card protest as nation demands England star is banned
SEN • June 25th, 2026 8:14 am
- Switzerland 1-0 Canada
- Bosnia 2-1 Qatar
- Morocco v Haiti 8am
- Scotland v Brazil 8am
- South Africa v South Korea 11am
- Czechia v Mexico
World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).
CALLS FOR RED CARD
Paraguay have officially launched a protest to FIFA amid claims of hypocrisy after England star Jude Bellingham was not shown a red card during his side's draw with Ghana despite covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent.
Last week, Miguel Almiron was dismissed for the act under new FIFA guidelines called "Vinicius Law" which ban players from covering their mouths while speaking in a bid to reduce disguised abuse.
According to Spanish media outlet El Mundo Deportivo, Paraguay are fuming and want action taken within the 48 hour protest window.
It is understood Bellingham remained on the pitch because his engagement with the opposition player was not deemed confrontational.
After the Almiron incident, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: "This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule. It's about respect. It's about the example that we should give. If you have nothing to hide, you don't cover your mouth when you speak to somebody. The rules have been made very clear to everyone."
SWITZERLAND SCORE
Just 45 seconds into the second half and Canadian hearts are breaking. Vargas nets it straight off the restart.
FIFA BREAK SILENCE ON HYDRATION BREAKS
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has spoken out on the World Cup’s controversial hydration breaks, affirming that the initiative has the players’ best interest at heart.
The mandatory three minute breaks permit both teams to return to the sidelines for hydration purposes amid warm conditions across the Americas.
While the initiative feels appropriate on the surface, the extension of the breaks has copped significant scrutiny.
Fans worldwide have continued to accuse FIFA of introducing the breaks for extra advertisement opportunities, with ads running at each interval for six minutes total across each World Cup match.
Furthermore, the breaks have permitted teams to squander momentum by pausing play and permitting team talks with their coaching staff mid half.
Infantino has confirmed that FIFA does not receive any financial gain from the breaks.
“There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance,” he said.
“This is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter.
“With teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important.
“What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions.
“It’s very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it is hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach does not have the same opportunity.
“We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”
