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Football’s legislative committee has clarified its guidelines to referees, confirming that Swiss striker Breel Embolo should not have been sent off during the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.
Embolo’s second yellow card, after a video review for simulated fouling, changed the dynamic of the match in the 72nd minute, shortly after Switzerland had leveled the score at 1-1.
Argentina won 3-1 in extra time thanks to the red card decision which fueled complaints, including from their former opponent Egypt, that the referees were favoring Lionel Messi’s side in their decisions.
The FIFA-backed rules committee, known as IFAB, issued a clarification on Monday that the VAR protocol for “mistaken identity” cases was not eligible for this type of incident at the World Cup, although it may be in future competitions.
“However, it cannot be used as such until this review is completed,” the Zurich-based IFAB said in a statement.
Embolo fell to the ground after being challenged by Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, who received a yellow card.
VAR officials alerted the referee to the fact that Paredes had not committed a foul and instead Embolo received a yellow, his second, and was sent off.
This is not how we currently intend to apply the expression “mistaken identity”, which consists of correcting the referee when a card is shown to the wrong player who did not commit the initial fault penalized.
“The referee made the wrong decision,” Swiss coach Murat Yakin said after the match in Kansas City. “I know they will protect their referee, but this rule destroyed our game today, and it is very painful, and to be eliminated in this way hurts very much.”
The IFAB clarified that the card “can only be examined to identify the player who committed the offense that was penalized; the offense itself cannot be reviewed/amended.”
VAR protocol update
A review of the VAR protocol has been underway since March and the IFAB has recognized that incidents like Embolo are part of it.
“The use of the mistaken identity clause to address simulation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been well received,” the Zurich group said.
The IFAB is made up of officials appointed by FIFA and the four British Football Associations. Its annual meeting is held every February or March to update the laws of the game that come into effect for major tournaments or the following season.
European football wants a lighter touch VAR
The IFAB’s clarity was hailed on Tuesday as a “welcome explanation” by UEFA, which welcomed referee chiefs from each of its 55 member federations to reset their decision-making principles for the new season.
“VAR is not intended to re-referee the match,” UEFA stressed, emphasizing the need for shorter video reviews and lighter interventions.
FIFA’s overall VAR strategy for the World Cup has been praised after a frustrating season of video reviews, particularly in the Premier League.
“Length microscopic examinations are often a symptom revealing that the decision on the field was not clearly and demonstrably incorrect, and should therefore be limited,” UEFA said, setting a standard for intervention “when a decision by the referee is manifestly incorrect or when the referee has missed an obvious incident.”
UEFA also encouraged the fight against time wasting during matches, decided by the IFAB in March and applied by FIFA during the World Cup.
“Referees will be instructed to strictly and systematically apply the new rules,” UEFA said.
UEFA will organize men’s and women’s club competitions this season, including the Champions League, as well as national team matches in the men’s Nations League and qualifiers for the 2028 European Championship, as well as qualifying playoffs for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Associated Press reporting.
