Paraguay Fans Burn Effigy of Referee Iván Barton

Paraguay's national team is seeking revenge against referee Iván Barton after he sent off Miguel Almirón in the match against Turkey.

What happened?

The Paraguayans took advantage of the religious holiday of San Juan to settle a score with the Salvadoran referee Iván Barton. The referee had sent off local star Miguel Almirón in the second-round match of Group D of the World Cup that the South American team won 0-1 against Turkey.

Why is it important for Paraguay?

The sending off of Miguel Almirón generated controversy and the Paraguayan fans decided to take drastic measures. They burned an effigy of referee Iván Barton, which has caused a great stir in the country. Cultural promoter Javier Torres stated that the burning of the effigy was a way to express the fans' discontent.

What comes next?

The Paraguayan national team is moving forward in the World Cup, despite the controversy generated. Recent form: 2W-0D-3L (WWLLL). The team's last result was: Mexico 1-2 Paraguay (2025-11-19).