World Cup 2026: VAR will not be used for diving in UEFA competitions

The VAR decisions against Almiron and Mbolo proved popular with many supporters, who felt it showed a desire to try to eradicate diving.

Yet BBC Sport spoke to several domestic leagues who said the use of mistaken identities for simulations had not been mentioned before, and came as a complete surprise.

There was widespread concern about the potential impact at club level.

One league in particular talked about how it could cause “chaos” with every yellow card reviewable for potential simulations.

There were other concerns, too, that it would put additional pressure on officials to make their initial decisions.

This will create a two-tier system, where simulation can only be reviewed if a yellow card is shown.

If a team concedes a goal from a free-kick, where the opposition embellishes the contact but there is no booking, there will undoubtedly be more debate about the role of VAR.

As officials gathered this week for the European competition’s early qualifying matches, UEFA told their VARs that they should use the new law in true cases of mistaken identity.

In the briefing before the World Cup, Pierluigi Collina – FIFA’s chief referee – used an example from the Euro 2016 final.

Referee Marc Clattenburg awarded Portugal a free-kick on the edge of the area, with France defender Laurent Koscielny booked for handball, although Portugal striker Eder used his hand.

In this case, FIFA said VAR could intervene and award a free-kick to France.

Simulation was never mentioned at any point in briefings or press conferences for months – even though it would be the most obvious intended use.

UEFA believes Mistaken identity is an entirely pragmatic decision For which the referee does not have to go to the monitor.

The change from foul to simulation is subjective and in the case of Almiron and Mbolo the referee has to go to the screen.

Therefore, UEFA believes the simulation is not mistaken identity.

As VAR can now intervene on wrongful second yellow cards, it will be possible to penalize diving if the offending player is sent off for two bookings.

Simulation can also be penalized if it results in an incorrect straight red card or penalty.

UEFA will check foul corners but, unlike the World Cup, this will not include a possible offside in the build-up and will only apply to the final touch.

Already the governing body of European football Rejection of the option to intervene in a red card issue if a player covers their face during a tackleAlmiron and Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie were sent off for doing so at the World Cup.

Head referees from UEFA’s 54 member nations are due to hold a summit next week to discuss all aspects of the use of VAR.

Mistaken identity will be among the issues, and BBC Sport understands that the domestic leagues will likely follow UEFA and only use this as a factual review.

IFAB declined to discuss the interpretation of the law when contacted.