Football's Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will continue to be deployed to penalise simulation at the 2026 World Cup, but with a specific caveat: intervention will only occur if a player is incorrectly booked in the initial incident. This clarification comes after a moment of confusion during the USA's recent match against Paraguay in Los Angeles, which saw a yellow card rescinded and then issued to a different player for diving.
The incident in question involved Paraguayan winger Miguel Almiron, who went to ground under pressure from USA captain Tim Ream. Dutch referee Danny Makkelie initially awarded Paraguay a free-kick and cautioned Ream. Replays, however, clearly showed no contact, indicating Almiron had simulated to gain an advantage. The game was subsequently halted, with messages on the stadium's giant screens indicating a "VAR review, mistaken identity".
Referee Makkelie was directed to the pitchside monitor, where he promptly reversed his initial decision, rescinding Ream's yellow card and instead booking Almiron for simulation. This application of the 'mistaken identity' rule has sparked discussion, as typically this rule is reserved for instances where the referee clearly identifies the wrong player for an offence, such as a red card shown to the wrong individual. In this case, the referee had not misidentified Ream, but rather misinterpreted the nature of the challenge itself.
Crucially, VAR interventions are not permitted solely to review and correct yellow cards, as this would lead to excessive stoppages and disrupt the flow of the game. VAR's remit for overturning yellow cards is generally limited to incidents involving goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. FIFA, the sport's global governing body, is understood to be satisfied with how its officials handled the scenario, suggesting that similar retrospective punishments for diving could be seen throughout the tournament.
However, a significant limitation remains: VAR can only step in if a card was initially issued. Had Ream not been shown a yellow card, current FIFA rules would not have provided grounds for a VAR review of Almiron's simulation. This highlights the narrow window within which VAR can address diving, leaving many unpunished instances of simulation potentially overlooked if no initial card is shown.