Story perspectives

FIFA Relocates VAR Ops to Stadiums Amid Scandal Fallout

7/14/2026

Summary

FIFA Moves VAR

FIFA moved VAR officials from the Dallas hub to stadiums for the World Cup semi-finals.
The shift follows criticism after VAR disallowed a Norwegian goal, upheld an English goal despite a cable hit, and sent off Swiss forward Breel Embolo with a second yellow in Argentina’s match.
VAR integrity concerns rose after a referee was caught viewing betting sites and an official was suspended for match-fixing.

Summary

Barton Issues Red

Referee Matthew Barton issued the tournament’s first red card after Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron removed his mouth-covering.
Barton will be assisted by official Dennis Higler and Mexican official Guillermo Pacheco in the semi-final on Tuesday, 14 July, after showing seven yellow cards, one red card and two penalties in his three matches.
Paraguay kept a 1-0 victory over Turkey despite playing the second half with ten men after Almiron’s apology.

Summary

Scaloni shuns war

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the Falklands/Malvinas war must stay out of the semi-final, describing the match as just football.
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul agreed, calling the conflict an atrocity but stressing the focus on winning.
Atlanta has increased security, recalling the heavy police presence required for the 1998 Saint-Étienne clash.
England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson hired a psychologist who instructed his players to avoid eye contact with Argentines during penalties.

History

Historical Context

After IFAB wrote VAR into the Laws of the Game on 3 March 2018 and FIFA approved its use at the 16 March 2018 Council in Bogotá, the technology debuted across all matches at the 2018 World Cup, where 335 incidents were reviewed and 14 calls overturned. Ongoing criticism—from the 2017 Confederations Cup to England manager Gareth Southgate—culminates in the 2024 semi-finals, where officials Dennis Higler and Guillermo Pacheco face betting-related accusations.

1 of 4

FIFA Moves VAR

FIFA moved VAR officials from the Dallas hub to stadiums for the World Cup semi-finals.
The shift follows criticism after VAR disallowed a Norwegian goal, upheld an English goal despite a cable hit, and sent off Swiss forward Breel Embolo with a second yellow in Argentina’s match.
VAR integrity concerns rose after a referee was caught viewing betting sites and an official was suspended for match-fixing.

1 / 4