What to know about new rules and technology behind the World Cup's most contentious calls

July 13, 2026 - 06:55

The red card shown to Switzerland's Breel Embolo during Saturday's quarterfinal clash with Argentina has become the latest flashpoint in a tournament defined by controversial officiating. Fans and pundits alike were left puzzled, not just by the decision itself, but by the bewildering name of the new regulation that decided the match.

At the center of the storm is the "delayed offside flag" protocol, a tweak to how assistant referees handle close calls. Under previous rules, the linesman would raise the flag the moment a player was deemed offside. Now, they are instructed to keep the flag down if a goal-scoring opportunity might develop, allowing play to continue for several seconds. The idea is to avoid killing promising attacks that might actually be onside after a video review.

The problem, as Embolo discovered, is that this delay can lead to dangerous collisions. After a long ball was played over the top, the linesman kept his flag down. Embolo sprinted for the ball, colliding with Argentina's goalkeeper in a race he would not have attempted had the flag gone up immediately. The referee, after a VAR check, showed a second yellow card for the challenge, effectively ending Switzerland's hopes.

Critics argue the system punishes players for following the new directive. By the time the flag finally goes up, the attacking player is already committed to a high-speed duel. While the technology aims for accuracy, the human cost in terms of injuries and match-altering cards is becoming a major talking point. FIFA has defended the protocol, stating it ensures the correct call is made, but the confusion over the rule's name and its real-world impact shows that even the best technology cannot eliminate controversy from the beautiful game.