According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), video assistant referee (VAR) protocols do not currently permit mistaken-identity reviews for simulation, confirming that Switzerland forward Breel Embolo should not have been sent off during the team’s World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina. The ruling addresses a controversial 72nd-minute incident that shifted the momentum of the game in Kansas City, where Argentina ultimately secured a 3-1 victory in extra time.
VAR Mistaken-Identity Rules and the Embolo Red Card
During the World Cup quarterfinal, Switzerland forward Breel Embolo fell to the ground after a challenge from Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, who received a yellow card. According to match reports, VAR officials alerted the referee that Paredes did not commit a foul. Consequently, the referee rescinded the foul against Paredes, showed Embolo a second yellow card for simulation, and sent him off. However, IFAB published a clarification stating that the VAR protocol for mistaken identity cannot be applied to simulation incidents under current rules. As IFAB noted in a public statement, mistaken identity is strictly meant to correct referees when a card is shown to the wrong player who failed to commit the original penalized offense. IFAB clarified that a card “can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the offense that was penalized; the offense itself cannot be reviewed/changed.”
Coaching Reactions and Ongoing Protocol Reviews
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin sharply criticized the officiating and the governing body’s rule constraints following the elimination. “The referee made the wrong decision,” Murat Yakin said after the game in Kansas City. “I know they will protect their referee but this rule destroyed our game today, and it’s very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot.” The incident has directly fueled a broader review of VAR protocols that has been underway since March. While IFAB acknowledged that handling simulation via mistaken identity clauses received positive feedback during the tournament, the Zurich-based panel emphasized that rules cannot change mid-competition. “However, it may not be used as such until that review is concluded,” IFAB stated regarding future implementations.
UEFA Push for Lighter Touch Video Reviews
European soccer’s governing body praised IFAB’s clarification as “welcome explanations” following meetings with referee bosses from its 55 member federations. UEFA established a firm stance that “VAR is not meant to re-referee the game,” advocating for shorter video reviews and a more restrained approach to interventions. According to UEFA, lengthy and microscopic reviews indicate that an on-field decision was not clearly and obviously incorrect. UEFA set a strict standard for intervention, stating that reviews should occur only “when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident.” Additionally, UEFA confirmed support for strict enforcement of anti-time-wasting rules agreed upon by IFAB and applied by FIFA during the World Cup across upcoming competitions, including the Champions League, Nations League, and European Championship qualifiers.
Did you know?
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is composed of representatives from FIFA and the four British soccer federations—The Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, and the Irish Football Association—with an annual meeting held each February or March to update The Laws of the Game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did IFAB clarify regarding Breel Embolo’s red card?
IFAB clarified that current VAR protocols for mistaken identity cannot be applied to simulation incidents, meaning referees should not have used video review to overturn a foul and issue a second yellow card to Breel Embolo for diving during the World Cup match.
How does IFAB define mistaken identity under VAR rules?
According to IFAB, mistaken identity review is strictly limited to correcting instances where a referee mistakenly issues a card to the wrong player who did not commit the penalized offense, rather than reviewing or changing the underlying nature of the offense itself.
What is UEFA’s stance on future VAR interventions?
UEFA advocates for a lighter-touch approach, insisting that VAR should not re-referee matches and should only intervene when an on-field decision is blatantly incorrect or when a clear incident was missed by the referee.
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