Tensions were running high as Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final. Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game in the 105th minute, as Spain lifted the trophy just two years after winning the European Championships.

Argentina’s aggressive antics followed once again in the final, with Enzo Fernández being sent off for Lionel Scaloni’s side after he received a second yellow card for a late challenge.

Minutes after Fernandez was sent off, Lionel Messi caught the eye of many fans as he appeared to be demanding that Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella be sent off due to a new rule by FIFA. However, Cucurella escaped punishment, and the reason why has now been explained.

Why Marc Cucurella Wasn’t Sent Off

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Prior to the start of the World Cup, FIFA introduced a new law which prohibited players from covering their mouths when talking during a confrontation with a player. Any player who is caught doing so would immediately be given a red card, no matter what they actually said while their mouth was covered.

The rule was intended to protect players from verbal abuse, as players wouldn’t say anything discriminatory, with their mouths available to everyone across the world to lip-read. The rule has often been named the ‘Prestianni rule’, referring to Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni, who covered his mouth when in confrontation with Vinicius Jr during a Champions League tie with Real Madrid, but Vinicius was unable to prove Prestianni was guilty of racial discrimination as the Argentine had covered his mouth.

Miguel Almiron was the first to see the rule being used, as he was sent off for Paraguay after a VAR review caught the winger covering his mouth when in conversation with a Turkey player. However, other players have avoided punishment for similar behaviour, ultimately blurring the lines between what is seen as a red card offence and what isn’t.

During Spain’s tie with Argentina, Cucurella was seen covering his mouth when talking to Messi for a brief moment, before the full-back quickly moved his mouth away after realising what could come his way should he be deemed guilty,

Despite moving his hand away just seconds after covering his mouth, Messi immediately complained to the referee, demanding that Spain should go down to ten men. It was seen as a desperate attempt by Messi, and it was unsuccessful as Cucurella stayed on the pitch.

A key part of the new rule is that for a player to be sent off, they must be seen covering their mouth when in an aggressive confrontation with another player.

Former FIFA Ref Mark Halsey Casts Verdict

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Ex-Premier League referee Mark Halsey explained why Messi had no chance of Cucurella being sent off. Halsey said that Cucurella wasn’t speaking to the Argentine in an aggressive manner. He said:

Manchester Unied and England legend Wayne Rooney also said on the BBC: “Argentina play like that, we know that’s what they do. The one thing you want is good sportsmanship. That was sad to see, Lionel Messi doing that.”

It isn’t the first time Argentina has been accused of unsportsmanlike behaviour, with their conduct being raised as an issue throughout the tournament.

Ryan Fox took home the Claret Jug at this year’s Open, netting himself a substantial payout in the process, having finished 10-under-par.

After an opening round of 72, and a second shooting 68, Fox powered himself into contention with a sterling Saturday. The New Zealander became the third man that weekend to card an eight-under-par 62, equalling the lowest round in men’s Major history. Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns had both managed the feat on Friday.

This left the 39-year-old in the mix going into the final day when, after sinking a birdie on the 18th, he captured a first Major title. It left him finishing the day on two-under-par, and 10-under for the tournament, taking him clear of American Cameron Young.

The Open 2026 Summary

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Fox only threw himself into contention over the weekend. As the action got underway on Thursday, Jackson Suber, playing in his first Open Championship, was the early pacesetter with a five-under-par. This left him holding a one-stroke lead over England’s Dan Brown and Im Sung-jae of Korea.

Friday brought about two record-equalling rounds, where both Lucas Herbert of Australia and then Sam Burns of the USA both shot rounds of 62. That round took the former to the top of the leaderboard, two strokes clear of his nearest challengers at eight-under-par, while Burns was tied-fifth alongside the youngest ever winner of the Players Championship Kim Si-woo and two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.

DeChambeau was the other big storyline from Friday’s action. Initially, the California native had been set to be just a shot off the lead, but found himself three back after being penalised for inadvertendly improving his lie on the fifth hole. He was adjudged to have fallen foul of rule 8.1 of the rules of golf, relating to playing the course as you find it.

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Officials determined that, even though not on purpose, DeChambeau treading over tall grass after finding deep rough meant he had changed the conditions that would affect his stroke. By altering and subsequently improving the conditions around his ball, he had handed himself a potential advantage. Despite his protests, officials stood firm, with DeChambeau initially suggesting he would not play the rest of the weekend.

He was back on course on the Saturday, though, faced both the challenge of Royal Birkdale and the wrath of Rory McIlroy, who accused him of holding the tournament hostage.

DeChambeau was unable to build on his Friday and finished Saturday tied-sixth after carding a 69. Sam Burns was able to build on his Friday performance, shooting five-under, taking a two-shot lead from Kim Si-woo and Ryan Fox, who had now emerged from the pack after his own record-equalling round of 62.

So, onto Sunday, where Fox held his nerve to capture the Claret Jug in style, holing a birdie on the 18th to claim the 154th Open. It marked something of a comeback for the New Zealander as, after a second bogey of Sunday on the 11th, it looked like his Open dreams were slipping away.

Russell Cheyne via Reuters

But he bounced back in style with consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th, before things took another turn with a bogey on the 15th. He hit back once more with a birdie on the 16th, though, missed a chance to steal ahead on the penultimate hole. But it was to be Fox’s day. Two brilliant shots on the 18th left him with a 12-foot-putt for glory, which he promptly made.

“To play that last hole how I did, I stood on the tee and said to my caddie Dean, ‘we’re going to try to win this,'” Fox said afterwards. “I hit two perfect shots, I’m not sure how I hit the putt. My hands were all over the place. I was just trying to get it towards the hole somewhere. It’s surreal that it went in.”

The Open Prize Money & Earnings

The prize pot for this year’s Open was set at $17,750,000, with Fox taking home $3.2 million for winning golf’s oldest Major.

Runner-up Cameron Young and third-placed Sam Burns are the others to take away seven-figure paydays at $1.8 million and $1.2 million respectively. Behind them, 36 golfers, all the way down to tied 28th on the leaderboard, are set for six-figure paydays after this week’s action at Royal Birkdale.

Lionel Scaloni was extremely emotional after his Argentina side were beaten by Spain in the World Cup final.

Spain and Argentina went head-to-head at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday afternoon with Scaloni’s side looking to retain their title.

Spain were by far the better team throughout the contest, but despite peppering Argentina’s goal, they struggled to find a way past Emiliano Martinez.

The South American outfit, who were reduced to 10 men in the 93rd minute when Enzo Fernandez was sent off, did all they could to hold out and take the match to penalties, but their resolve was broken in the second half of extra-time when Ferran Torres fired the ball into the roof of the net. That proved to be the winner as Spain were crowned World Cup champions for the second time.

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Argentina’s players completely lost their head at full-time. Nahuel Molina punched Rodri as he ran onto the pitch to celebrate, while Leandro Parades clashed with Eric Garcia and Gavi.

Argentina then turned their backs to Spain during the trophy ceremony. That is despite Spain giving them a guard of honour when they made their way up to collect their silver medals.

While Argentina’s players have been slammed for their actions, Scaloni has been praised for his classy post-match comments. The 48-year-old was full of praise for Spain and admitted they deserved the victory. He said, per AS:

He added: “They were better today, to be honest, but I’m happy with what we’ve done so far. We’re showing that we know how to lose. We accept things. I want to thank the fans, my players, and tell the country that we gave it our all. We arrived at the right time, that’s the reality, but if we had given everything.

“The effort was enormous; they gave their all, but against a team like that, you can suffer. Against another team, it might have ended differently; we know how to go all the way. Today is the sad part, but we have to keep going.”

Scaloni’s comments have gone down well on Reddit. One fan said: “Scaloni has always been class, regardless of what you think about the Argentine team,” while another commented: “Scaloni always maintaining class. Parades and Enzo need to learn a thing or two from their coach.”

A third said: “By far the most respectable member of this entire side,” while a fourth commented: “I do love Scaloni. He and Messi are the sole redeeming parts of this team.”

Scaloni Breaks Down in Tears

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Scaloni got emotional when discussing his future with Argentina. He said: “I’m going to talk to the president. I have an idea of ​​what to do. My contract ends in December, and I’ll see. I don’t know if anything bigger than this will be possible, and we’ll have to see. I thank the president for the opportunity to be where I am. It’s a dream job for everyone. We tried until the very last moment to give our all.

“It’s only right that I can take this time to think about it. This place is wonderful, a dream job. I never imagined I’d be here. To continue, a lot of things are needed: to reset, to build a group like this, which is unlikely to be formed again, and it pains me deeply… I’m sorry.”

Scaloni then left the press conference in floods of tears. He was given a standing ovation as he walked out of the room.