The 2026 World Cup Mystery: Why Declan Rice Didn’t Get a Red Card for Covering His Mouth

A Match Full of Surprises

The 2026 World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England gave us lots of unforgettable moments. But one of the most talked-about things after the game ended wasn’t about a goal, a big play, or even their famous rivalry.

Hours after Argentina beat Thomas Tuchel’s England team 2-1 to reach the final, a gesture by Declan Rice became a hot topic. He did this gesture three times, and it could have gotten him a red card (which means you’re kicked out of the game).

Rice’s Gesture Toward Messi and Argentina Sparks Controversy

During the match, players got upset with each other a few times. There was some pushing and verbal exchanges (that means they were arguing with words).

• Fans of England and Argentina even clashed outside the stadium, and police had to rush in to calm things down.

In one of those tense moments—while the score was still 0-0—the Arsenal midfielder (a type of player in the middle of the field) was caught on camera three times covering his mouth while talking to:

• Lionel Messi
• Enzo Fernández
• Alexis Mac Allister

This was reported by Fox Sports. Under new FIFA rules, doing this could have meant a red card.

What Is the “Prestianni Rule”?

The new “Prestianni Rule” says a player gets a direct red card if they deliberately cover their mouth, face, or hide behind their jersey while talking to an opponent. The goal? To stop people from saying racist, discriminatory, or just plain mean things while hiding them from cameras and referees.

Important Point: Under this rule, Rice could have been sent off three times! But he wasn’t penalized at all.

Here’s why Rice stayed on the field:

• None of the Argentine players (not even Messi) complained to the referee, Ismail Elfath.
• No one asked for a VAR review (VAR is a video system referees use to check big decisions).
• Elfath was busy trying to keep order around him.
• It wasn’t a fight between Messi and Rice, so the referee saw no reason to review it.

How the Match Ended

Rice played the whole game. Argentina won thanks to:

1. A goal by Enzo Fernández (assisted by Messi)
2. A goal by Lautaro Martínez (also assisted by Messi)

Coach Lionel Scaloni’s team moved on to another World Cup final, where they will play Spain.

• The final is this Sunday, July 19
• At the New York/New Jersey Stadium
• At 3:00 PM ET

There, the trophy could change hands or Argentina could become a two-time champion!

Origin of the Prestianni Rule

This rule wasn’t made up out of nowhere. It started after a messy UEFA Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid.

Here’s what happened:

• Real Madrid’s Brazilian player, Vinícius Júnior, said Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni insulted him in a discriminatory way.
• Prestianni was covering his mouth with his jersey while doing it.
• Because the insult couldn’t be clearly proven, UEFA (the group that runs European soccer) started its own investigation.
• Prestianni was punished with a six-game suspension for homophobic conduct (meaning he was banned from playing 6 games for anti-LGBTQ+ behavior).

After that, FIFA (the big boss of world soccer) created this new rule. The first players ever sent off under it in a World Cup were:

• Miguel Almirón of Paraguay (vs. Turkey)
• Piero Hincapié of Ecuador (vs. Mexico)

Summary

To wrap it up:

• Argentina beat England 2-1 to reach the 2026 World Cup final.
• Declan Rice covered his mouth 3 times while talking to Argentine players.
• A new rule (the Prestianni Rule) says that can be a red card.
• Rice wasn’t punished because no one complained and the referee was busy.
• The rule exists to stop hidden insults, created after a Champions League incident.
• Argentina now faces Spain in the final on July 19.

FAQ

Q1: What is a red card in soccer?
A: It’s a card the referee shows to kick a player out of the match. They can’t be replaced, so their team plays with one less person.

Q2: Why is it called the Prestianni Rule?
A: Because it was made after Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth during a Champions League game and was later suspended for a discriminatory insult.

Q3: Could Declan Rice get in trouble later for his gesture?
A: Based on the article, no action was taken during the match because no one complained and the referee didn’t review it. FIFA could investigate after, but the text doesn’t say that happened.

Q4: What does VAR mean?
A: VAR stands for Video Assistant Referee. It’s a team of officials who watch the game on video and help the main referee check important moments.

Q5: Who will Argentina play in the final?
A: Spain, on Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 PM ET in the New York/New Jersey Stadium.