[Saba Sports News] British media reports that UEFA will not adopt the new VAR rule used at the World Cup, under which VAR can intervene to correct yellow cards handed out to the wrong player. UEFA will instruct its match officials not to implement FIFA’s controversial mistaken identity protocol, which permits VAR reviews for the first yellow card offence. Breel Embolo of Switzerland became the first player sent off as a result of this new rule last weekend. In that incident, VAR overturned the foul originally credited to Leandro Paredes of Argentina. Referee João Pedro Pinheiro instead showed Embolo a yellow card for simulation, leaving the forward dismissed for a second booking. While replays appeared to validate the decision, UEFA fears that the application of this mistaken identity clause is expanding VAR’s authority beyond the scope agreed upon by football’s law-making bodies.
The editor believes that this marks the latest major rift between UEFA and FIFA over the Laws of the Game. Earlier this month, UEFA announced it would not follow FIFA’s lead by issuing straight red cards to players who walk off the pitch in protest against refereeing decisions.