The International Football Association Board has confirmed that the identity substitution rule was wrongly applied at the World Cup, directly affecting Switzerland's quarterfinal elimination.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has admitted that the VAR protocol for identity substitution was incorrectly applied during the recently concluded World Cup, leading to the controversial sending off of Swiss striker Breel Embolo in the quarterfinal against Argentina. The statement was released on Monday, July 27, 2026, with media reporting on it a day later, on July 28. According to Jutarnji list, the error was first uncovered by The Athletic.
In the 72nd minute of the quarterfinal, with the score at 1-1, referee Joao Pinheiro initially showed a yellow card to Argentine player Leandro Paredes for an alleged foul on Embolo. However, after a VAR intervention under the pretext of "identity substitution," it was determined that Paredes had not committed a foul, but rather that Embolo had simulated. Pinheiro rescinded the caution to Paredes and subsequently issued a second yellow card to Embolo, resulting in his dismissal. Playing with one man less, Switzerland eventually lost 3-1 after goals from Julian Alvarez in the 113th minute and Lautaro Martinez in stoppage time of extra time. The decision immediately triggered strong reactions from the Swiss camp.
According to a letter published by IFAB and reported by Index.hr, the identity substitution protocol may only be applied when the wrong player has been punished for the same offense that the referee originally called. 'A yellow card that is not a second yellow card can only be reviewed to determine the identity of the player who committed the called foul; the foul itself cannot be reviewed or changed,' the decision states. In Embolo's case, the VAR intervention changed the nature of the offense from a foul to simulation, which was not permitted. IFAB confirmed that such application was erroneous and, as previously announced, the protocol will be revised as part of a detailed review of the VAR system that began in March 2026.
According to Jutarnji list, an almost identical situation occurred earlier in the tournament, during the group stage between the USA and Paraguay. Referee Danny Makkelie initially penalized American Tim Ream with a yellow card for a foul on Miguel Almiron, but after a VAR intervention, he overturned that decision and penalized Almiron with a yellow card for simulation. Thus, as it now appears, a precedent was set that should not have been applied.
Swiss players and the coach did not hide their outrage immediately after the match. Defender Nic Elvedi, as reported by Dnevno.hr, stated: "I don't understand how VAR can make such a decision." Coach Murat Yakin added to Dnevno.hr: "That red card, we were punished by a rule that is completely incomprehensible to me. Of course, elimination in this manner hurts a lot. We didn't deserve that." Later, Yakin expanded his criticism to Index.hr: "The referee made a wrong decision. I know he will protect his referees, but this rule destroyed our match today. It's very painful, and going out like that hurts a lot."
Although the 2026 World Cup was held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the entire case has stirred up a major controversy in the football world and raised serious questions about the correctness of VAR officiating at major tournaments.
