Full Breakdown
Controversial VAR and Sensor Decisions Cloud the 2026 World Cup
7/13/2026, 4:40:14 AM
Core Controversies on the Field
The quarter-final between Argentina and Switzerland saw forward Breel Embolo receive a second yellow card for “clear simulation” after VAR reviewed a challenge involving Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. The decision invoked the newly-named “mistaken identity” rule, even though the referee had not shown a card to the wrong player. In the round of 32, Croatia’s equaliser against Portugal was ruled out when an in-ball sensor detected a barely perceptible touch by Igor Matanovic on the ball’s “heartbeat,” rendering Luka Modric’s teammate off-side. Egypt’s late-stage goal against Argentina was cancelled after VAR identified a foul on Lisandro Martínez that occurred deep in Egypt’s own half, prompting the Egyptian federation to allege “serious concerns” about consistency. Norway’s equaliser versus England was upheld despite the team’s claim that the ball struck an overhead camera cable; FIFA’s sensor data showed no “peak” indicating contact. By the end of the round of 16, 13 red cards had been issued—more than triple the total in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments combined.
Background: Expanded Technology and New Rules
VAR, introduced to correct “clear and obvious” errors after the 1986 “Hand of God” incident, was resisted by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter but embraced by Gianni Infantino after 2016. For the 2026 tournament, Collina and the International Football Association Board added four extra situations where VAR may intervene, including pre-corner fouls and “mistaken identity” cases. In-ball sensors, capable of recording data 500 times per second, were marketed as able to detect any slight contact, providing officials with unprecedented precision.
Data & Statistics
- 2018 World Cup: 20 VAR interventions in 64 matches.
- 2022 World Cup: fewer than 30 interventions in the same number of matches.
- 2026 World Cup (early stages): interventions “quickly dwarfed” the previous totals, though exact figures are not disclosed.
- Red cards: 13 issued through the round of 16, a three-fold increase over the combined totals of the two prior tournaments.
Official Statements & Responses
Collina emphasized that “there is no defined limit regarding either the distance from goal or the amount of time between the incident and the goal,” asserting that “nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials.” FIFA’s social-media post described the sensor as “capable of determining any slight contact … allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions.”
Criticism & Opposition
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin condemned the “mistaken identity” ruling as “painful” and detrimental to his team’s chances. Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic said “all these decisions take the joy out of football,” while Egypt’s Hossam Hassan decried the outcomes as “unfair.” Modric argued that technology is “either being used incorrectly or selectively, depending on the size of the team.” Network scientist Brennan Klein warned that fans are “voting with their boos” and that a “dystopian future of over-refereeing” fails to address VAR’s original purpose.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree that VAR interventions have surged, but they provide no precise count for the 2026 tournament, leaving the exact scale of the increase unclear. The red-card figure (13) is presented without a direct comparison to the specific totals from 2018 and 2022, creating a gap in quantifying the magnitude of the rise.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I know they will protect their referee but this rule destroyed our game today, and it's very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot.” — Murat Yakin, Switzerland coach
- “All these decisions take the joy out of football,” — Zlatko Dalic, Croatia coach
- “What's happening isn't fair,” — Hossam Hassan, Egypt coach
- “For some things it's useful, but it's either being used incorrectly or selectively, depending on the size of the team or whatever else," he said.” — Luka Modric, Croatia midfielder
- “Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials,” — Pierluigi Collina, FIFA referees chief
