A controversial moment occurred during the USA-Mexico World Cup final. In stoppage time between Spain and Argentina, Messi complained that Cucurella was covering his mouth while talking to him, but the referee, Victor Vencic, did not intervene.
This World Cup introduced a new rule: players who cover their mouths while communicating in a confrontational setting will be sent off with a red card. Paraguay's Almiron and Ecuador's Incapie were both sent off for this reason.
During stoppage time, Cucurella placed his hand over his mouth while communicating with Messi, then quickly removed it. Match replays show Cucurella placing his hand over his mouth at 94 minutes and 29 seconds, but quickly removing it—the entire process lasted less than a second. Messi gestured to referee Vencic that Cucurella was covering his mouth, to which Vencic explained that VAR had indicated there was no problem.
In response, the media outlet Archivo VAR analyzed the ruling, stating that Cucurella should not have been sent off with a red card because he had only slightly covered his mouth with his hand while speaking to Messi, and there was no confrontation. Vengic also ruled that there was no confrontation between the two parties, thus rejecting Messi's complaint.
