Messi's Red Card Appeal Rejected in World Cup Final
Argentina captain Lionel Messi appealed for Spain defender Marc Cucurella to be sent off during the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, but referee Slavko Vincic rejected the request. The incident occurred deep into stoppage time after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card and sent off, triggering a heated exchange between players from both teams.
As tempers flared, Cucurella was seen briefly covering his mouth while speaking to another player. Messi immediately drew the referee's attention to the gesture, believing it breached FIFA's newly introduced 'no covering the mouth' rule. However, Vincic allowed play to continue, ruling that the incident did not warrant a red card.
FIFA's New Rule on Covering the Mouth
Under FIFA's updated regulations, players can be dismissed if they deliberately cover their mouths while engaging in a direct verbal confrontation with an opponent, according to SPORTbible. Match officials determined that Cucurella's action did not occur in a confrontational exchange as defined by the law. As a result, Spain completed the match with 11 players, while Messi's protest was dismissed.
The decision reinforced FIFA's position that referees must consider both the player's action and the surrounding circumstances before applying the sanction.
Previous Enforcements of the Rule
FIFA has already enforced the rule earlier in the tournament. Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie and Paraguay captain Miguel Almiron were both sent off after covering their mouths while confronting opponents. Almiron became the first player dismissed under the new directive during Paraguay's group-stage victory over Turkey and later served a suspension after FIFA confirmed the decision could not be appealed.
A similar appeal was made in Argentina's semifinal against England, when Leandro Paredes urged referee Ismail Elfath to punish Harry Kane for briefly covering his mouth while speaking, per Yahoo Sports. That request was also rejected, further underlining FIFA's distinction between incidental gestures and conduct considered confrontational under the new law.
Outcome of the Final
Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Argentina 1-0 thanks to Ferran Torres' extra-time goal at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The Ballon d'Or race is now heavily tilted towards the Barcelona attacker after his crucial role in helping La Roja secure their second World Cup.
