Football's international rule-making body has effectively confirmed that one of the most disputed video assistant referee decisions of the 2026 World Cup should never have been made, reigniting scrutiny over Argentina's contentious run through the tournament even as a separate FIFA disciplinary investigation into the team's conduct continues.

The finding centers on Argentina's quarterfinal victory over Switzerland, a match in which Swiss striker Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card and sent off after appearing to go down under a challenge from Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes. Replays suggested there had been no contact between the two players, with Embolo accused at the time of simulation, commonly known as diving, in an attempt to win a foul. The match referee reviewed the incident using the tournament's revised "mistaken identity" protocol before issuing the red card, a decision that proved decisive as Switzerland went on to lose the match after extra time.

The International Football Association Board, known as IFAB, which writes and governs the laws of the game that FIFA competitions are required to follow, has since confirmed that the review should not have taken place under the current rules governing VAR reviews. In a statement, IFAB said: "A yellow card (caution) other than a second yellow card can only be reviewed to identify the player who........

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