VAR confusion in USA-Paraguay World Cup match as referee uses mistaken identity rule to book diver
A second-half VAR review in the USA–Paraguay World Cup match led to a controversial booking reversal, as the referee applied the 'mistaken identity' protocol to punish a dive, raising questions about whether the rule allows penalising an opponent for simulation.
The incident
In the 50th minute at SoFi Stadium, with the United States leading Paraguay 3-0, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie stopped play after a challenge between USA captain Tim Ream and Paraguay's Miguel Almirón. Makkelie judged that Ream had fouled Almirón and showed a yellow card to the American defender. The VAR, Spain's Carlos del Cerro Grande, then intervened and advised the referee to review the decision for mistaken identity.
At the pitchside monitor, Makkelie watched replays and determined that Almirón had simulated a foul without any contact from Ream. He rescinded the yellow card for Ream and instead booked Almirón for simulation. The stadium screen displayed that the VAR check was conducted under the 'mistaken identity' protocol.
The rule debate
The decision was immediately debated because the International Football Association Board's (IFAB) protocol on mistaken identity allows a review when the referee has "clearly penalised the wrong player" for an offence that was committed by a player of either team. However, the protocol also states that "the offence itself cannot be reviewed." Makkelie effectively used the review not only to correct the name of the cautioned player but to change the nature of the infraction from a foul by Ream to simulation by Almirón.
Sources told BBC Sport that the decision was technically wrong, even if it appeared just. FIFA did not issue any clarification on the application of the rule. Proponents of the decision argued that any tool to curb simulation is valuable, while critics pointed out that the IFAB wording does not explicitly cover booking an opponent for diving when the original call was a defensive foul.
Reactions
Good spot and the right decision I may add. That's the main thing. Any adaptation of the rules that means diving gets punished is good.
Former England defender Phil Jagielka welcomed the principle of punishing divers but noted a potential grey area:
It's hard for the referees to get every decision correct. If something like that does happen, where there's obviously not been contact and it's been simulated and the referee has fallen for it, why not reverse it? The only thing is, what happens if I touch you a tiny bit and then you dive? You can't reverse it, because I've touched you, even though my touch hasn't made you collapse and fall over. Where do you draw the line?
Match outcome
The United States won the Group A opener 4-1, with the incident occurring while they held a 3-0 lead. The result gave the co-hosts a strong start to the tournament, but the evening's main talking point remained the novel use of the VAR protocol.
