Tim Ream is first player to benefit from 'mistaken identity' rule

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

United States' Tim Ream (L) and Paraguay' Antonio Sanabria (C) battle for the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Ringo Chiu/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

United States defender Tim Ream became the first player to benefit from the new "mistaken identity" rule introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) earlier this year.

The new law allows referee to use VAR to overturn red and yellow cards issued to the wrong players. The most common application is expected to be during mass confrontation, when a referee's view is obstructed.

Ream received a yellow card for a foul on Miguel Almiron during the US' 4-1 win in their World Cup opener against Paraguay on Friday.

However, after checking the video, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie overturned his decision and booked Almirón for simulation instead.

Ream will be relieved, otherwise he would have spent the rest of the group stage trying to avoid a second yellow card and, therefore, a one-game suspension.

At the age of 38, he also became the oldest player in the history of the US men's national team to appear at a World Cup.

Continue reading...