Declan Rice received a yellow card in the fifth minute of England's last-16 World Cup match against Mexico at Mexico City Stadium. The Arsenal midfielder was cautioned by referee Alireza Faghani for a foul on Luis Romo.
Alan Shearer commented: "Not ideal. Rice has every right to go for the ball but he does catch him unfortunately. He will have to tread very, very carefully for 89 minutes, and the rest. He has to go for the ball but it is a dangerous one."
This booking was Rice's second of the tournament, having also been shown a yellow card during England's 0-0 group-stage draw with Ghana at Gillette Stadium. Under standard disciplinary rules, accumulating two yellow cards typically results in an automatic one-match suspension.
Yellow Card Amnesty After Group Stage
However, Rice will not be suspended for any potential quarter-final match if he finishes the game against Mexico with only a booking. This is because all single yellow cards are wiped clean at the conclusion of the group stage, giving every player a fresh start for the knockout rounds.
The change is designed to prevent players from missing crucial knockout matches due to minor infractions accumulated during the opening games. Because the 2026 World Cup features an expanded 48-team format, FIFA has structured the disciplinary slate wipe accordingly to avoid those scenarios.
Second Amnesty After Quarter-Finals
Following the initial reset after the group games, another amnesty will take place for all players immediately after the quarter-finals. This second wipe ensures that no player can miss the final by accumulating single yellow cards. Under these updated rules, only a direct red card offence in the semi-finals would cause a player to miss the game due to suspension.
England fans can therefore breathe easy knowing that Rice remains available for selection in the quarter-finals, provided he does not receive a red card against Mexico.
