Paraguay attacker Miguel Almiron was sent off after covering his mouth while he appeared to direct a comment at Turkey's Mert Muldur.
Image: AFP
Ten-man Paraguay beat Turkey 1-0 at the Fifa World Cup on Friday, a result that kept their hopes alive and also guaranteed that co-hosts the USA win Group D.
Turkey's defeat means they become the second team after Haiti to be eliminated from contention.
Matias Galarza scored the only goal in a game that featured the first sending off in World Cup history for a player covering their mouth during an on-field confrontation, for Miguel Almiron.
Galarza's low, long-range shot evaded Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir after just 63 seconds.
In a scrappy match, Deniz Gul had a golden chance to equalise in the 88th minute when Paraguay 'keeper Orlando Gill could only parry a shot, but he stabbed his shot wide of the goal.
Merih Demiral glanced a header wide in the dying seconds and was almost in tears afterwards as the Turkey players slumped to the turf in bitter disappointment.
Former Newcastle forward Almiron was given his marching orders in first-half stoppage time after covering his mouth while he appeared to direct a comment at Turkey's Mert Muldur.
FIFA announced in April that players who cover their mouths in confrontations with opponents will be given a red card.
The initiative being rolled out at the World Cup is part of a broader effort to combat racism, FIFA has said.
The new rule follows controversy earlier this year when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior during a Champions League game in February.
Prestianni denied racially abusing Vinicius but was later banned for six matches - with three of those suspended - for "homophobic conduct".
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been a prominent supporter of the new law.
"If you do not have something to hide, you don't hide your mouth when you say something. That's it, as simple as that," Infantino said in March.
AFP