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BBC highlights major VAR error in USA vs. Paraguay World Cup match
🇨🇱 Chile /Sports

BBC highlights major VAR error in USA vs. Paraguay World Cup match

From Cooperativa · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • BBC Sport highlighted a significant VAR error during the USA vs. Paraguay match at the 2026 World Cup.
  • The error involved a yellow card for Paraguay's Miguel Almiron, which was incorrectly issued after a VAR review.
  • The review itself deviated from protocol, as it was used to correct a mistaken identity situation inappropriately.

BBC Sport has pointed out a major VAR blunder during the 2026 World Cup match where the United States defeated Paraguay 4-1. The incident occurred after a review by Spanish VAR official Carlos del Cerro Grande prompted Dutch referee Danny Makkelie to change a yellow card issued to U.S. captain Tim Ream.

Makkelie had initially cautioned Ream for a supposed foul on Almiron. However, after the VAR review, the referee reversed his decision and instead booked the Paraguayan player for simulation. This change caused confusion, especially since replays showed no contact from the U.S. defender.

According to BBC Sport's analysis, the VAR intervention was improper. Dale Johnson, the outlet's refereeing analyst, explained that the 'mistaken identity' protocol, which allows for such corrections, was misapplied. The rule is intended for situations where the referee punishes the wrong player, not for re-evaluating the nature of a foul.

the intervention of the VAR did not correspond to the protocol, due to the fact that the 'mistaken identity' rule only allows for corrections

— Dale JohnsonBBC Sport's analysis of the VAR error.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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