The international soccer governing body, through its law-making panel IFAB, has clarified VAR guidelines following a controversial decision at the World Cup. The incident involved Breel Embolo, a forward for Switzerland, who was wrongly sent off in the quarterfinals against Argentina.
In this match, Embolo received a second yellow card for allegedly simulating a foul. This decision shifted the game’s momentum just after Switzerland tied the score at 1-1. Argentina eventually won 3-1 in extra time. The decision also sparked complaints that referees favored Argentina, particularly Lionel Messi’s team.
The IFAB released a statement saying that the VAR protocol for mistaken identity was not applicable for such incidents at the World Cup. However, it might be considered for future tournaments. Embolo had been challenged by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes, who initially received a yellow card. After video review, officials corrected the error against Embolo but not under the mistaken identity rule.
The rule aims to correct when a card is shown to the wrong player, not for incident review. ‘The referee made the wrong decision,’ said Switzerland coach Murat Yakin, noting the painful impact on their game and elimination.
Following ongoing review since March, IFAB noted incidents like Embolo’s are under consideration. They acknowledged the use of mistaken identity for dealing with simulation will be discussed ahead of the World Cup 2026.
UEFA welcomed this clarity, highlighting a need for concise video reviews and less interference. They stress that VAR should not generally re-judge matches. Praising FIFA’s World Cup VAR strategy, UEFA emphasized reviewing decisions only if clearly incorrect.
UEFA outlined its commitment to enforcing rules, including cracking down on time-wasting. Referees across UEFA competitions, like the Champions League and national team tournaments, will adhere to these updated protocols.