Enzo Fernandez Receives Red Card in World Cup Final Chaos

WHO:

Daily Mail Sports - Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea midfielder

Daily Mail Sports - Wayne Rooney, former England international

WHAT:

Yahoo Sports - The 2026 World Cup final featured 13 straight red cards, more than the previous three World Cups combined.

Yahoo Sports - FIFA introduced new rules allowing red cards for players who cover their mouths during confrontations and for players who deliberately leave the field to protest a referee’s call.

Daily Mail Sports - Enzo Fernandez was given a second yellow card and sent off during the World Cup final.

Daily Mail Sports - The dismissal occurred due to a late challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi.

WHERE:

Daily Mail Sports - The event took place during the World Cup final.

WHEN:

Daily Mail Sports - The incident occurred with minutes remaining in the match.

WHY:

Daily Mail Sports - Wayne Rooney criticized the challenge as "silly."

HOW:

Yahoo Sports - VAR can now intervene if a player is wrongly sent off for a second yellow card, allowing for potential appeals to FIFA.

Daily Mail Sports - Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card for the challenge, leading to his dismissal.

In a historic turn of events, the 2026 World Cup final saw an astonishing thirteen straight red cards issued, surpassing the total from the previous three tournaments combined. This dramatic increase in disciplinary action comes after FIFA introduced new rules that penalize players for covering their mouths during confrontations and for intentionally leaving the field to protest a referee's decision. Additionally, VAR now has the ability to intervene if a player is incorrectly sent off for a second yellow card, paving the way for potential appeals to FIFA.