Paraguay protests against Jude Bellingham after World Cup match
Paraguay filed a complaint with FIFA against Jude Bellingham, alleging that he violated World Cup rules by covering his mouth during a conversation with Jordan Ayew. FIFA clarified that this is allowed in normal conversations, but Paraguay questions the action.
Paraguay filed an official complaint with FIFA against England midfielder Jude Bellingham following the goalless draw against Ghana at the World Cup. According to information from The Sun newspaper, the Paraguayans claim that Bellingham should have been sent off during the match for breaking one of FIFA's new rules, which already caught a player by surprise. During an on-field conversation, Bellingham briefly covered his mouth with his hand while speaking to Ghana captain Jordan Ayew. The two seemed relaxed during the exchange and even hugged each other, with no visible signs of tension or disagreement. Despite the seemingly harmless interaction, Paraguay believes the situation should have been investigated under the tournament's new anti-discrimination regulations, commonly referred to as the "Vinicius Law". The South American country filed its complaint within the official 48-hour period allowed under FIFA tournament rules. Paraguay's argument is based on a separate incident involving Miguel Almiron. The former Newcastle United player received a red card and a one-match suspension after being accused of racially abusing Turkish player Mert Mulder during a confrontation. Paraguayan officials now question why similar action was not taken against Bellingham. However, the circumstances surrounding the two incidents appear to be significantly different. Before the start of the World Cup, Pierluigi Collina, FIFA's head of refereeing, clarified how officials would interpret the new regulations. He explained that players can still cover their mouths while speaking on the pitch, especially during normal conversations with friends, clubmates or known opponents. Collina emphasized that the key factor is the nature of the conversation itself. According to FIFA guidance, covering one's mouth only becomes a disciplinary issue when it is linked to a confrontational exchange or behavior that officials consider inappropriate. In such cases, a red card may be issued. This distinction may weaken Paraguay's case. There was no suggestion by match officials, FIFA or any of the players that the conversation between Bellingham and Ayew involved any form of abuse, misconduct or confrontation. The interaction did not attract the attention of referee Said Martinez of Honduras, and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) also saw no reason to intervene.
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