Prestianni rule sparks controversy in Liga MX after two early red cards
Martín Varini broke his silence after Julián Carranza became the second sending-off of the Apertura 2026 under the controversial rule.
The so‑called Prestianni Rule is suddenly at the center of the Liga MX conversation. Just three matchdays into the Apertura 2026, Necaxa striker Julián Carranza became the second player sent off under this new officiating standard — a decision that triggered the first public criticism from the sidelines.
Necaxa manager Martín Varini didn’t deny the rule itself. But he made it clear he wasn’t convinced the match was handled with the right context.
What is the Prestianni Rule?
The Prestianni Rule, introduced by IFAB, mandates an automatic red card for any player who covers their mouth with a hand while insulting or directing offensive comments at an opponent.
The guideline emerged after Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making racist remarks toward Vinícius Júnior while hiding his words from cameras. Since then, the protocol has been adopted across multiple competitions — including Liga MX.
Two red cards in just three rounds
Apertura 2026 already has two cases:
- Matchday 1: Tigres forward Rodrigo “Búfalo” Aguirre was sent off against Xolos.
- Matchday 3: Carranza was ejected after a heated exchange with Toluca’s Federico Pereira at the end of the first half. After a VAR review, the referee confirmed Carranza had covered his mouth during the argument and issued the red card.
Varini: “You have to consider the context”
Speaking at his postgame press conference, Varini didn’t attack the rule itself and acknowledged that the referee followed protocol. But he argued that Carranza had been provoked repeatedly throughout the match — with insults that went unpunished — creating what he felt was an uneven disciplinary standard.
“It’s tough, really tough, because sometimes the provocations aren’t judged. They were on Julián all game, insults… and VAR doesn’t intervene. It’s not an excuse — we know the rule is what it is and we have to accept it — but I understand Julián.”
Even so, Varini stressed that the loss wasn’t solely about officiating. His team, he said, needs to learn how to compete in difficult environments.
The red card flipped the match
Before going down to ten men, Necaxa had tied the game thanks to a goal from Carranza himself. Toluca regained the lead before halftime and, with a man advantage for the entire second half, closed out a 3–1 win.
Things got worse for Necaxa when Agustín Oliveros was sent off late for a second yellow, leaving the Rayos with nine players.
A rule already dividing opinions
The Prestianni Rule has only been in place for a few weeks in Mexican soccer, but it’s already stirring debate. With two red cards in three matchdays, coaches and players are beginning to question how it’s applied — while the Referees’ Commission remains firm: any attempt to hide insults will be punished with a straight red.
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