Nine days after the end of the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, the rule administrators have addressed a controversial yellow card issued to Swiss national player Breel Embolo and confirmed an VAR error. The International Football Association Board (Ifab) stated that during a clash between Argentina and Switzerland in the quarter-final game with both sides tied at 1:1, the video assistant should not have intervened.
The match referee initially showed the Argentine player Leandro Paredes his first yellow card after a confrontation. However, upon reviewing the incident with VAR assistance, an official took back the card and instead issued Embolo with the red-yellow combination due to a foul play.
Ifab clarified that based on the rules of the game only a yellow warning for foul play could be reviewed but not to identify the player committing the offense; it emphasized this rule applies exclusively when identifying players, not when reviewing offenses themselves. The UEFA reaffirmed these guidelines and stated during an executive meeting with representatives from its member associations that judges must ultimately remain at the center of all decisions. Their stance was that VAR should only be used for clearly obvious errors.
VAR Only for Clear Errors
The way this rule was applied in the World Cup match between Argentina and Switzerland, as well as a previous group game between the USA and Paraguay, was received with openness and approval by football authorities. Ifab mentioned during the tournament that this process was positively received and is now part of the review of protocols for visual evidence inclusion into regulations.
Consistent Application Sought
Criticism of VAR pointed to the necessity for clearer guidelines. The UEFA representatives stated in their meeting about keeping VAR as a tool to be used in judges' discretion, ensuring more consistent outcomes.
The statements from the rulemakers and European football association signal that further strengthening of this system with consistent application is required. Clear directions will become an important focus on the upcoming months and years to improve clear integration and implementation of these systems.
