Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart strongly criticised Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes after he attempted to have Harry Kane sent off during England’s dramatic 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. The controversial incident sparked widespread debate, with Hart calling the appeal “pathetic” and Wayne Rooney also questioning the midfielder’s actions.
England’s Late Collapse Sends Argentina to the Final
England looked on course for a place in the World Cup final after Anthony Gordon gave the Three Lions the lead in the second half. However, Argentina staged a remarkable comeback, with Enzo Fernandez equalising before Lautaro Martinez scored a dramatic winner in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 victory.
The result booked Argentina’s place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain, while England will now face France in the third-place playoff.
Leandro Paredes Tries to Get Harry Kane Sent Off
One of the most talked-about moments of the match came during an intense first half when Leandro Paredes appealed to referee Ismail Elfath to dismiss Harry Kane.
The incident occurred after Kane briefly covered his mouth while speaking to the referee. Seeing this, Paredes quickly approached the official, seemingly arguing that the England captain had violated one of FIFA’s newly introduced rules.
The unusual appeal immediately caught the attention of fans, commentators, and football experts.
Why Did Paredes Appeal for a Red Card?
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA introduced a rule allowing referees to send off players who deliberately cover their mouths while directing abusive or offensive comments toward opponents.
The regulation was introduced following an incident earlier this year in which Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni received a six-match UEFA suspension after allegedly directing a homophobic insult at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. while hiding his mouth during a Champions League match.
Earlier in the tournament, Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player to receive a red card under the new rule after speaking to Turkey’s Mert Muldur while covering his mouth during an on-field confrontation.
However, the law does not apply when players are speaking privately with match officials, making Kane’s conversation with referee Elfath entirely different from the situations the rule was designed to address.
BBC Explains the Controversial Moment
During the halftime analysis, BBC presenter Mark Chapman explained what had happened.
According to Chapman, Paredes believed Kane’s action of covering his mouth while speaking was against the rules and attempted to convince the referee accordingly.
However, Chapman pointed out that the regulation specifically concerns players speaking to opponents while concealing their mouths—not conversations with referees.
Joe Hart Calls Paredes’ Actions ‘Pathetic’
Reacting to the incident, former England goalkeeper Joe Hart did not hold back in his criticism.
Hart described Paredes’ appeal as “pathetic,” arguing that Harry Kane was simply trying to have a private discussion with the referee in the middle of a noisy stadium.
He acknowledged that players often look for every possible advantage in high-pressure matches but insisted this situation clearly did not deserve disciplinary action.
Hart added that Argentina should focus on winning matches through football rather than trying to exploit technical interpretations of the rules.
Wayne Rooney Also Disagrees
Former England captain Wayne Rooney also shared his opinion during the discussion.
Rooney dismissed the appeal, calling the situation “ridiculous” and suggesting there was no justification for attempting to have Kane sent off for speaking privately with the referee.
His comments echoed Hart’s view that the incident was an unnecessary distraction from the game itself.
Argentina March Into the World Cup Final
Despite the controversy, Argentina completed an impressive comeback to reach another FIFA World Cup final.
Lionel Messi and his teammates will now face Spain in the championship match, while England will look to finish their campaign on a positive note against France in the third-place playoff.
Although the semi-final produced plenty of footballing drama, the exchange involving Harry Kane, Leandro Paredes and the new FIFA rule has become one of the match’s biggest talking points.
Disclaimer: Match details and disciplinary regulations mentioned in this article are based on reports available at the time of writing. Official FIFA decisions remain the final authority on tournament rules and match incidents.