Zlatan Ibrahimović, the former Swedish striker and current Fox Sports commentator, harshly criticized the so-called "Vinícius Law" and the Paraguayan Miguel Almirón's red card in the match between Paraguay and Turkey, while also praising the resilience of the Albirroja, who played the entire second half with ten men.
According to Ibrahimović, the rule that resulted in the red card shown to the Paraguayan winger in first-half stoppage time represents an excess of regulation. "They're calling it the 'Vinícius Law.' If a rival provokes you, you don't need someone to protect you with a new rule. Put the ball in the corner and shut them up. That's the real sanction," he declared.
The former footballer went further and questioned the role of IFAB and FIFA in enforcing the rule. "Covering your mouth now is a red card? FIFA wants to read lips, punish thoughts before they even become words. Players can't even talk or breathe passion without some VAR robot or referee deciding their emotions are illegal. This is dystopian. Football is dying," he fired off.
Despite the refereeing controversy, Zlatan reserved his most emphatic praise for the performance of the Guaraní side. "Everyone is crying about the referee and the monitor, but they're completely missing the real miracle. Paraguay lose Miguel Almirón in the third minute of first-half stoppage time because of this ridiculous rule. They had to play the entire second half with ten men against a talented Turkish team. Did they give up? No. They defended like absolute lions. You can create all the modern regulations you want, but you can't legislate the heart. A lion at a disadvantage is still a lion, and Paraguay showed the world what it means to be a warrior," he stated.
The Swede also highlighted Matías Galarza's early goal, scored in the second minute of play after a high press recovery, and the Albirroja's determination to hold onto the lead until the final whistle. "Julio Enciso makes a play, Matías Galarza scores in the second minute, and then they decide they'll die on the pitch before giving up that advantage. Turkey had an entire half to break down ten men and couldn't do it. Tactics are for philosophers; surviving a World Cup match against all odds is for men. Today, Paraguay was a team of ten men with the spirit of a hundred," Ibrahimović summarized.