The comic strip Calvin and Hobbes features a whimsical game called Calvinball, where the rules are often vague and subject to change. In this make-believe sport, determining a “competitions starting before that date may implement the changes earlier or delay their implementation until no later than the start of the next competition” is secondary, as evidenced by a game score of “when a player is shown a yellow/red card but the offence for which the card was shown was committed by another player of either team” The idea of such an unpredictable game became part of public discourse, even referenced by US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in a notable dissent last year.
In the early years of Major League Soccer, the term Calvinball was used to describe the league’s chaotic handling of player acquisitions and allocations. Salary-cap rules were strictly enforced—unless exceptions were made. For instance, colorful goalkeeper and forward Jorge Campos could have a Ferrari while playing in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, teenage sensation Freddy Adu entered the draft with his family insisting he join DC United, and the league ensured that happened.
World Cups are often reminiscent of Calvinball, especially when unexpected applications of Fifa regulations arise, such as reversing a red card ban for a host nation’s star player. Many incidents stem from the complexities of coordinating diverse teams and referees, each with their own interpretations and practices. A foul that might seem obvious to a European referee could be overlooked by an official from a different region, and vice versa.
Fifa complicates matters further by mandating that changes to the laws of the game should be applied during the World Cup, rather than after the event concludes. Although Fifa shares voting power with the International Football Association Board, it still has discretion on when to enforce changes. This year, the laws officially changed on July 1. However, the IFAB stated that “covering their mouth when communicating with an opponent in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory manner or situation” Since World Cup qualifications began before July 1, Fifa had no need to enforce untested laws during the tournament.
Some years, updates are straightforward. For example, in 2022, the introduction of five substitutions instead of three was clear-cut. Goalline technology, which had been trialed in various competitions before the 2014 World Cup, was also easily accepted.
However, many viewers encounter significant changes for the first time during the World Cup. VAR made its debut at the 2018 tournament, ahead of its integration into major European leagues. Some modifications may seem trivial initially, but they can dramatically alter gameplay.
Take the case of Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón. During his team’s opener against the USA, he fell to the ground alongside defender Tim Ream, leading referee Danny Makkelie to issue a yellow card to Ream. Previously, ordinary fouls and yellow cards were not reviewable. Yet recent law changes added a “being shown or, where there is no board, of the referee’s signal for the substitution to take place, except where this is not possible due to safety/security or injury” clause, now covering situations where a player receives a card for an offense committed by another player. Replays revealed that Almirón had deceived the referee with a clever dive, resulting in Ream’s card being rescinded and Almirón receiving a booking for simulation. In the quarter-finals, Switzerland’s Breel Embolo faced a similar fate. His reversed yellow card was significant as it was his second, leaving the Swiss team with ten players in a match they eventually lost in extra time.
The “mistaken identity” adjustment was included in an IFAB circular summarizing decisions from its annual meeting on February 28. A special meeting held two months later resulted in additional changes, including a new offense for sending off players: “covering their mouth when communicating with an opponent in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory manner.” Almirón fell afoul of this rule in Paraguay’s second match, receiving a red card and prompting an outburst from a Paraguayan commentator.
Recent regulations have also led to confusion regarding interpretations. For instance, a player substituted must leave the field within ten seconds of being shown a card or upon the referee’s substitution signal, unless safety or injury prevents it. This provision allows players to feign injuries and prolong their exit from the field, which can lead to disputes if the referee does not accept their excuse.
Current laws permit referees to allow play to continue for minor injuries while stopping for serious ones. Throughout this World Cup, there have been numerous instances where play persisted despite players lying on the ground, often leaving both teams and officials puzzled. Although the traditional gesture of one team kicking the ball out for a stoppage of play is not entirely extinct, it has become increasingly rare.
Some rules appear to have been neglected entirely. For instance, removing a shirt during a goal celebration automatically results in a yellow card, even if the goal is later disallowed. Egypt’s Mostafa Ziko, however, received no yellow card after celebrating a goal against Argentina that was initially ruled out but later stood, giving his team a 2-0 lead.
Additionally, protocols for pausing matches in response to particular homophobic chants have been ignored. Mexico has faced penalties for such incidents in the past, yet games have continued without fines or warnings, despite the chants being audible enough for broadcasters to attempt to muffle them.
While some obvious violations go unaddressed, officials have been overly meticulous on other calls. Croatia’s equalizer against Portugal was disallowed when a sensor indicated that Igor Matanovic had made the slightest contact with the ball before it reached teammate Josko Gvardiol. Although Gvardiol was not offside when the ball was passed, the touch from Matanovic meant the goal was ruled out. Had Matanovic sported a more voluminous hairstyle, the goal might have counted.
Such controversial decisions have led many fans to question the very existence of VAR. However, the technology itself is not to blame, as it has proven effective in sports like American football and cricket.
Regardless of technology, some calls ultimately come down to human interpretation. A case in point is the ongoing debate surrounding the initial foul called on the USA’s Folarin Balogun, which hinges on whether players are expected to position themselves safely while an opponent is challenging them.
Fifa and IFAB’s challenge remains clear communication. This has not been achieved with the handball rule, which has undergone so many revisions over the years that it resembles a game of broken telephone, leading to confusion.
Perhaps Fifa should rethink the practice of implementing numerous changes during a time when global attention is focused on the tournament.
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- Video assistant referees (VARs)
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