According to The Athletic, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has recently clarified the controversial “mistaken identity” VAR rule at the World Cup.
This provision may only be used to confirm the identity of the player being sanctioned; it cannot be used to overturn the foul decision itself, nor does it apply to cases of simulation. In other words: the core issue is not whether Embolo dived. The key point is that, under the current rules, VAR has no authority to use this method to bring about a second yellow card on the grounds of so-called simulation.
This means that the second yellow card shown to Swiss forward Embolo for diving in the quarter-final against Argentina would not have been issued under the new interpretation.
For the first time at this World Cup, VAR is allowed to intervene in cases of “mistaken identity” involving yellow and red cards, but confusion has arisen in its practical application.
In the match between the United States and Paraguay, the referee showed Ream a yellow card for a foul on Almiron. VAR recommended a review on the basis of “mistaken identity,” as Ream had not actually made contact with Almiron. The referee overturned the original decision and instead showed Almiron a yellow card for simulation.
More importantly, in Switzerland's match against Argentina, Embolo won a free kick at the time, and Argentina's Paredes was shown a yellow card for the foul. VAR again recommended a review, as Paredes had not made contact with Embolo. After the review, Embolo was deemed to have dived, was shown a yellow card (his second of the match), and was sent off. Paredes' yellow card was rescinded.
Although IFAB acknowledged that using “mistaken identity” to deal with simulation during the World Cup was “well received,” it has now explicitly banned such practice and said a decision will be made only after a full review of the VAR protocol. Until then, VAR cannot use this as grounds to overturn decisions involving simulation.
The Athletic has contacted FIFA for comment.