Argentina refereeing scandal confirmed during World Cup

Argentina's progress in the World Cup has been clouded by a refereeing controversy that a senior football authority confirmed involved a misapplication of the rules. The dispute centers on a red card shown to Breel Embolo after the video assistant referee (VAR) reassigned a yellow originally given to Leandro Paredes. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) had instructed VAR to intervene when the wrong player is cautioned, but UEFA reportedly instructed VAR not to act on simulation offences, making the red card improper. Similar officiating errors were noted in earlier matches against Algeria, Austria, Egypt, Switzerland and in the USA‑Paraguay game. A BBC investigation found that officials in several leagues were unaware of the alleged rule change, highlighting broader concerns about VAR procedures and fairness in the tournament.