Messi criticised for demanding red card over Cucurella mouth-cover in final
Lionel Messi drew criticism for demanding referee Slavko Vinčić red-card Spain's Marc Cucurella during Argentina's 1-0 extra-time World Cup final defeat. Cucurella covered his mouth while speaking to Messi, breaching FIFA's IFAB-approved rule meant to stop players hiding abusive language from lip-readers. VAR reviewed but declined, deeming the exchange non-confrontational. Pundits Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart called Messi's appeal 'sad' and desperate.