Football lawmakers confirm new Fifa rule was WRONGLY used at World Cup as Argentina benefitted from error

IFAB has admitted that VAR wrongly intervened on two instances of diving at the World Cup. One of them helped Argentina squeeze past Switzerland in the quarter-finals, setting up their win over England in the semis. Breel Embolo was sent off late in Switzerland’s World Cup defeat to Argentina Credit: AP Argentina then kicked on to win the game in extra-time Credit: Getty Swiss forward Breel Embolo thought he had won a free-kick on the edge of the box following a tackle from Leandro Paredes. But the VAR recommended an on-field review on the basis of ‘mistaken identity’. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Referee Joao Pinheiro then watched the footage, retracted the free-kick and showed a yellow card to Embolo – his second of the night – for simulation. Ifab – global football‘s law-making body – has now confirmed that VAR intervention on grounds of ‘mistaken identity’ can only be used if there is doubt around the identity of the culprit. It cannot spark a review of the offence itself, meaning Embolo should have remained on the pitch and the free-kick should have stood, if the rules were applied correctly. The score was 1-1 when Embolo was dismissed in the 72nd minute, and Argentina went on to win 3-1 in extra-time. The Ifab update reads: “A yellow card which is not a second yellow card can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the offence that was penalised; the offence itself cannot be reviewed/changed. “The use of the mistaken identity clause to deal with simulation during the World Cup was well received and will be included in the detailed review of the VAR protocol announced in circular No32. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Tim Ream’s yellow card against Paraguay was overturned and shown to Miguel Almiron instead Credit: Getty “However, it may not be used as such until that review is concluded.” Argentina went on to lose in the final to Spain, but only after numerous instances of refereeing controversy, with beaten last-16 opponents Egypt even calling the tournament “rigged“. The USA were the other team to benefit from a similar VAR mishap after Tim Ream was yellow carded for a tackle on Miguel Almiron in the group stage. VAR cited ‘mistaken identity’ to recommend an on-field review, and ref Danny Makkelie reversed the decision before booking Almiron for diving. Comment now