Co-host USA made a strong start to the World Cup by thrashing Paraguay 4-1. However, amidst the dominant victory for Pochettino’s squad at SoFi Stadium, a historic and bizarre decision involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) became a major talking point.
The USA was leading 3-0 at the time. US defender Tim Ream received a yellow card from referee Danny Makkelie for a foul on Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón. Shortly after the free-kick was taken, play was suddenly halted as the video referee requested the on-field official to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor (VAR screen). After checking the monitor, the referee rescinded Tim Ream’s yellow card and instead booked Almirón for diving (simulation); the VAR footage revealed that there had been absolutely no contact between Ream and Almirón.
This marked the first time in World Cup history that VAR intervened due to a case of ‘mistaken identity.’ Under standard rules, a decision usually cannot be reversed once play has restarted. However, a new rule was introduced for this World Cup at the special request of FIFA Referees Committee chief Pierluigi Collina. This rule allows VAR the authority to alter a decision even after play has resumed if a referee mistakenly books an opponent for a foul that never occurred. Spectators were left confused when the referee halted play to revise the decision after the free-kick had already been taken, as they had never before witnessed a situation where the game was ‘rewound’ after restarting.
BBC Sport commentator and former England midfielder Danny Murphy welcomed the decision, stating, “Any rule change that imposes stricter penalties for diving or simulation is beneficial for football.”
Folarin Balogun made history in the match by scoring a brace for the USA. Giovanni Reyna’s exquisite curling shot from 20 yards out in the dying moments was one of the match’s highlights. Yet, overshadowing the game itself, the dissection of VAR’s historic case of ‘mistaken identity’ has now become the main talking point in the football world.
