Formal protest launched as image of $220m English star rocks World Cup

Paraguay’s football governing body — Asociacion Paraguaya de Futbol — has lodged a protest demanding an explanation after Bellingham was not sanctioned for speaking with Ghana’s Jordan Ayew while using his hand to cover his lips.

It comes after Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player in World Cup history to be issued a straight red card when footage showed him covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent during his country’s clash with Turkey.

The historic punishment sparked a storm of controversy and fuel has now been poured on the fire when Bellingham escaped without punishment for a similar gesture during the Three Lions’ draw with Ghana.

The 22-year-old was at the centre of a flashpoint at half time as he clashed with members of the Ghana dugout, according to talkSPORT.

Morgan Rogers had to hold back Bellingham, whose transfer to Real Madrid was estimated to be worth up to $220 million, as he exchanged words with opposing manager Carlos Queiroz.

However, it was his interaction with Leicester City’s Ayew, where he covered his mouth with his hand during a brief conversation, where he could have been issued an instant red card.

Under new rules introduced by FIFA, referees are now permitted to send players off for covering their mouth during a confrontational situation.

Paraguay lodged its protest, but the case is not expected to proceed any further because of the wording used to assess the rule.

Prior to the World Cup beginning, Fifa refs’ chief Pierluigi Collina said: “It has to be clear that players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm, an hand, a shirt because they may chat with friends, with players from the same club.

“They meet during the World Cup playing in different national teams.

“So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem.

“If the conversation is confrontational, it’s a completely different story.

“When it is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong. And the sanction is the red card.”

It comes after Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was handed a six-match ban by UEFA for admitting using homophobic language towards Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian accused Prestianni of racism during the confrontation but the Argentine never received sanctions for that.

The incident occurred during a Champions League clash with Real Madrid in February.

Officials have already implemented the rule for the World Cup.

Almiron’s red card means he will have to sit out his team’s final group game against Australia.

Almiron will be able to return to play for Paraguay if the country qualifies for the knockout stages.

Socceroos vice captain Jackson Irvine earlier this week went viral for his views on the red card.

“The rule itself is clear,” he said.

“We were all told before. I know it’s going to be controversial in some ways because of we don’t know the nature of what it was.

“When we look at the past, especially around what happened with Vinícius Junior, I think it takes everything out of the equation. If you’re saying something to someone that you don’t want to be seen, I think it’s safe to say if you can’t be seen saying it then it shouldn’t be said.

“For me, it’s a clear line on the rule. We were all told about it, so it is what it is.”

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