Scandal! Should a Real Madrid star have seen red for covering his mouth? PHOTOS
Marc Cucurella has found himself at the centre of a fresh refereeing debate.
Details: During Real Madrid's Champions League meeting with Inter, an episode involving Cucurella covering his mouth sparked questions over whether the defender should have been sent off. Refereeing analysis account Archivo VAR gave a categorical answer: no. UEFA's official guidance for the 2026/27 season states that simply covering the mouth while speaking is not, by itself, an offence punishable with a red card.
The controversy stems from the so-called Prestiani rule, which became one of the major refereeing talking points of 2026. Competition organisers were given the option to punish a player with a red card for covering the mouth during a confrontation, but UEFA explicitly decided not to apply an automatic dismissal in its tournaments.
The situation is therefore different from the approach used at the 2026 World Cup. Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almirón was sent off against Türkiye after covering his mouth while addressing an opponent during a confrontation, one of the most discussed applications of the new option.
In the Champions League, however, Cucurella's gesture alone was not enough for a straight red card. UEFA says a referee may still consider an attempt to conceal communication to be unsporting behaviour and show a yellow card, while further disciplinary investigations can also follow if necessary.
Real Madrid eventually defeated Inter 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scoring for José Mourinho's side. It is worth noting that Cucurella joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in June 2026 and signed a six-year contract running until June 30, 2032. The club's official statistics currently list five appearances and 339 minutes for the Spanish defender.
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Steven Perez
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