IFAB clarification finds VAR ‘mistaken identity’ protocol was ineligible at World Cup; Embolo red card deemed wrong

The FIFA-backed rules panel known as IFAB published a clarification that the VAR protocol for "mistaken identity" cases was not eligible at the World Cup, a determination that means the red card issued to Switzerland's Embolo was wrong.

IFAB, the body backed by FIFA that oversees the laws of the game, issued the formal statement clarifying which VAR procedures applied during the tournament. The panel's announcement specifically addressed the use of the "mistaken identity" protocol and its applicability at World Cup matches. That clarification directly connects to the incident in which Switzerland's Embolo was shown a red card. The ruling from IFAB confirms that the protocol in question should not have been used in that context.

The clarification from IFAB makes clear that the particular VAR route labelled "mistaken identity" was not an available option under the tournament's adopted procedures. By identifying that limitation, the panel concluded the use of that process at the World Cup was inappropriate. The outcome of that finding is that the red card shown to Switzerland's Embolo has been judged incorrect under the panel's interpretation.

Those involved in the match where the red card was issued will now have a formal record from the rules authority stating the protocol's ineligibility at the event. IFAB's statement narrows which VAR interventions were permitted and which were not during the World Cup. The clarification serves to distinguish the approved decision-review channels from the "mistaken identity" pathway that the panel said was not in play.

For match officials and VAR teams, the IFAB release provides a clear reference about the boundaries of permitted video-review procedures for the competition. The panel's wording identifies the procedural gap that led to the contested red card for Embolo. That linkage between the procedural ruling and the specific disciplinary action is central to the panel's finding.

The IFAB clarification therefore establishes that the red card shown to Switzerland's Embolo was wrong because the "mistaken identity" VAR protocol was not eligible at the World Cup. The panel's statement stands as the authoritative interpretation regarding the matter.