Referee Ali Bujsaim showed Caniggia the red card apparently for dissent when the winger was sitting on the Argentina bench during their group F match against Sweden.

The Argentine bench protested when Bujsaim waved play on after Ariel Ortega fell as he was robbed of the ball near the end of the first half.

Caniggia, who missed the 1998 finals but played in the 1990 and 1994 tournaments scoring four goals, was on the bench for the first time after recovering from a knee injury.

In Italy in 1990, having helped Diego Maradona's Argentine defending champions reach the final against West Germany, Caniggia was suspended for a second booking during their semi-final against Italy.