Champions League
By Staff Writer — 17 July 2026
Uefa has told its video assistant referees (VARs) they must not consider potential simulation as mistaken identity, as it was used at the 2026 World Cup.
The International Football Association Board (Ifab) tweaked the VAR protocol effective from this summer.
A VAR could now intervene to change a yellow or red card if a referee had incorrectly identified which team’s player committed the offence.
This was activated twice at the World Cup, firstly to overturn a yellow card given to United States defender Tim Ream for a foul and switch it to Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron for a dive.
More controversially, Switzerland striker Breel Embolo was sent off in the 72nd minute of the quarter-final against Argentina.
Leandro Paredes was booked for a reckless challenge, but the Swiss striker was shown to have initiated the contact.
As Embolo was already on a caution, the 29-year-old was given a second yellow card following the VAR review and subsequently dismissed.
The decision came just five minutes after Switzerland had made it 1-1 in the last-eight tie, with Argentina going on to win 3-1 after extra time.
The VAR decisions against Almiron and Embolo proved popular among many supporters, who felt it showed a willingness to try to eradicate diving.
Yet BBC Sport has spoken to a number of domestic leagues who said the use of mistaken identity for simulation had not previously been mentioned, and it came as a complete surprise.
There was a great deal of concern about the potential impact at club level.
One league in particular spoke about how it could cause “chaos”, with every yellow card reviewable for potential simulation.
There were other concerns, too, about the additional pressure it would place on officials for their initial decisions.
It would create a two-tier system, whereby simulation could only be reviewed if a yellow card had been shown.
If a team were to concede a goal from a free-kick, where the opponent embellished contact but there was no booking, there would undoubtedly be more controversy about the role of the VAR.
It would also be difficult to be consistent on what is deemed to be clear simulation.
As officials gathered at matches for the opening qualifying rounds of European competition this week, Uefa told its VARs they should only use the new law in true cases of mistaken identity.
In briefings before the World Cup, Pierluigi Collina - Fifa’s head of referees - had used an example from the Euro 2016 final.
Referee Mark Clattenburg gave a free-kick to Portugal on the edge of the area, with France defender Laurent Koscielny booked for handball, although Portugal striker Eder had used his arm.
In this case, Fifa said the VAR could intervene and give the free-kick to France.
At no stage in the briefings or news conferences over several months had simulation been referenced - even though it would be the most obvious intended use if so.
Uefa believes mistaken identity is a purely factual decision which does not require the referee to go to the monitor.
It should only involve the same offence - handball as in the Euro 2016 example.
Changing from a foul to simulation is reviewing different, subjective offences and, as in the cases of Almiron and Embolo, the referee must visit the screen.
Therefore, Uefa believes simulation is not mistaken identity.
As the VAR can now intervene on incorrect second yellow cards, it would be possible to punish diving if the player who committed the foul is sent off for two bookings.
Simulation can also be penalised if it results in an incorrect straight red card or a penalty.
Uefa will check incorrect corners but, unlike at the World Cup, this will not include a potential offside in the build-up and will only apply to the last touch.
European football’s governing body has already rejected the option to intervene to issue red cards if a player covers their mouth in a confrontation, with Almiron and Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie sent off for doing so at the World Cup.
The head referees from Uefa’s 54 member nations are due to hold a summit next week to discuss all aspects of VAR use.
Mistaken identity will be among the topics, and BBC Sport understands the domestic leagues are likely to follow Uefa and only use it as a factual review.
