Football's rule-making body introduced a new VAR protocol at the 2026 World Cup permitting video reviews to correct which player was penalised for an offence. The approach was applied twice, most notoriously in a Switzerland-Argentina quarter-final when a red card was transferred from one player to another following review, effectively removing Switzerland from the match. Supporters praised the intervention as a tool to combat simulation, but domestic leagues reported surprise and concern about the potential consequences.

UEFA has now restricted the 'mistaken identity' rule to purely factual corrections in its European competitions, rejecting its use for determining whether contact was embellished. The federation contends that judging simulation involves subjective interpretation, distinguishing it from objective player identification errors. Leagues had raised concerns that expanding VAR reviews to cover diving could create unpredictable enforcement and undue pressure on referees, particularly since the rule would apply only to incidents already receiving cautions, leaving uncalled dives in open play unreviewed.