FIFA has defended a contentious video assistant referee (VAR) decision during the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Los Angeles, asserting that former Newcastle player Miguel Almiron was correctly issued a yellow card following a VAR review, despite apparent violations of established VAR protocols.

The incident occurred when referee Danny Makkelie initially cautioned U.S. defender Tim Ream for a foul on Almiron. Shortly after play resumed, the referee was prompted by the VAR officials to review footage for a case of "mistaken identity," a scenario typically reserved for reversing cautions or sendings-off attributed to the wrong player. Following the review, Makkelie withdrew Ream’s yellow card and instead booked Almiron for simulation, also known as diving.

This decision sparked debate because, according to International Football Association Board (IFAB) guidelines, VAR interventions for mistaken identity are strictly applicable when a different player—not the one originally booked—has committed the same offense. In this situation, Almiron was not responsible for the foul that led to Ream’s card but was instead penalized for a separate offense. Critics argued that this contravened the IFAB’s VAR protocols, which do not authorize changing the reason for a caution under mistaken identity protocols.

FIFA, however, maintained that the referee had clearly penalized the wrong player and was therefore justified in awarding the yellow card to Almiron. The governing body emphasized that the core purpose of VAR is to ensure the correct player is sanctioned, even if the offense differs from the original infraction for which a caution was issued.

The match, part of the ongoing international fixtures at the SoFi Stadium, highlighted continuing challenges in VAR application despite extensive global use and regulation. FIFA’s stance underscores a willingness to interpret the existing protocol flexibly in pursuit of accurate officiating, though it also raises questions about the clarity and consistency of VAR guidelines in high-profile international matches.