Published On 4/7/2026
The confrontation between Argentina and Cape Verde in the round of 32 of the World Cup witnessed an exciting match held in the city of Miami, which ended with Argentina winning 3 goals to 2 in a match that was characterized by competition and excitement until the last moments.
After the match, American referee Drew Fisher was subjected to sharp criticism by fans and followers, due to a position that some considered to be in violation of one of the new rules that were implemented in the tournament.
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Viewers circulated a video clip that went viral on social media, garnering more than 23 million views, showing an unusual moment of pause during the execution of a corner kick for the Cape Verde national team.
The scene sparked great controversy, after it appeared that the referee asked the Cape Verde players to wait until one of the Argentine players, Nicholas Tagliafico, returned to the field before executing the kick.
Details of the case that sparked controversy
The incident was due to Argentine defender Nicolas Tagliafico suffering a nose injury as a result of a collision with fellow goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, which caused bleeding and required him to leave the field to receive treatment and change his shirt.
This incident came at a time when the Cape Verde national team was preparing to take a corner kick, which led some to believe that the new rule requiring the injured player to leave for one minute had not been implemented, and that the opposing team did not benefit from the numerical deficiency.
However, in the final moments of the incident, instructions were issued to wait for the Argentine player to return to the field before resuming the kick, which intensified the controversy among observers.
The controversial rule and its official interpretation
Widespread questions have been raised about why the mandatory one-minute exclusion rule was not implemented, which aims to limit wasting time and punish teams that benefit from medical stops.
These new rules include strict procedures, including removing a player receiving medical treatment from the field for a full minute, in addition to other rules related to goal kicks and throw-ins to limit wasting time.
The amendments also include obligating the injured player who is receiving treatment to leave the field before returning later, but the rule regarding a one-minute exclusion is not applied in all cases.
According to the laws of the International Football Association Board, a player who suffers from bleeding must leave the field immediately to receive treatment, and is not allowed to return until it is confirmed that the bleeding has completely stopped and traces of blood have been removed from clothing or equipment.
Accordingly, the case of Nicholas Tagliafico was considered an exception, which makes the referee’s decision to wait until his return a technically correct decision according to the laws.
Despite the legal interpretation, controversy continued among the fans, especially over not counting enough stoppage time during the match, which some considered a direct impact on the course of the confrontation.
