Dutch referee Danny Makkelie stopped play during the second half of the United States vs Paraguay match, puzzling players and fans alike. Antonee Robinson had just headed the ball out of the home penalty area, but the game was halted while Spanish video assistant referee Carlos del Cerro Grande sent Makkelie to the pitchside monitor.
The reason soon became clear: Makkelie was reviewing his earlier decision to book USA captain Tim Ream for fouling Paraguay forward Miguel Almiron. When the replays showed Almiron had not been touched, the referee reversed the caution – and booked Almiron for diving instead.
“Dutch referee Danny Makkelie's decision to book Paraguay's Miguel Almiron for diving may have been wrong despite feeling right.”
It looked like a textbook use of the tweaked 'mistaken identity' rule, and many welcomed it. "Good spot and the right decision I may add. That's the main thing," said BBC commentator Danny Murphy. "Any adaptation of the rules that means diving gets punished is good."
But according to the wording of the International Football Association Board (Ifab), mistaken identity can only be used for a specific incident when the referee "has clearly penalised the wrong player". The rules state: "The offence itself cannot be reviewed." Since Makkelie had booked Ream for a foul that never happened, the situation was not about mistaken identity between Paraguay players – it was about reviewing an incorrect call.
Well-placed sources have told BBC Sport Makkelie's decision was wrong, even if it felt right. World governing body Fifa is yet to clarify the situation.
Former England defender Phil Jagielka is all for diving being punished. "I'm a defender, so I don't mind," he told BBC Sport. "Stuff like this, it's got to help. Tim Ream gets booked – he could end up getting sent off, and he's physically not touched someone. It's hard for the referees to get every decision correct. If something like that does happen, where there's obvious..."
As the World Cup continues with a packed schedule of matches, the incident has left players, coaches and fans grappling with a rule change that may have produced the right outcome but through the wrong process.