The European Football Union "UEFA" issued decisive instructions to the Video Assistant Referee "VAR" referees not to include simulation or deception within the "error in identifying the player" rule, in a categorical rejection of the controversial mechanism currently applied in the 2026 World Cup.
The British Broadcasting Corporation "BBC" reported that the International Football Association Board "IFAB" introduced amendments to the "VAR" technology this summer, allowing the yellow card to be changed to red when the referee fails to accurately identify the perpetrator of the offense.
The rule was applied twice in the ongoing World Cup, the first when the yellow card was transferred from American Tim Ream to Paraguayan Miguel Almirón on the grounds of simulation, but the most controversial situation came in the round of 16 between Switzerland and Argentina.
Swiss striker Breel Embolo was sent off in the 72nd minute after VAR intervention, although Argentine Leandro Paredes had initially received the yellow card for a strong challenge, but the review revealed that Embolo initiated the contact, earning his second caution and being sent off.
The decision came just 5 minutes after Switzerland scored the equalizer, at a crucial timing that shifted the balance of the match, which ended with Argentina winning 3-1 in extra time after Switzerland played with ten men.
UEFA's decision represents an explicit rejection of expanding VAR's powers in this manner, amid concerns that applying this rule could open the door to excessive refereeing interventions that spark widespread controversy and negatively affect the course of matches in European competitions.
