Tim Ream is World Cup’s first player to benefit from VAR ‘mistaken identity’ check

• USMNT defender was issued yellow card to his chagrin

• Referee overturned decision, gave card to Almirón

• Report: Americans bulldoze past Paraguay in opener

Tim Ream made history on Friday in more ways than one. The second the opening whistle blew in the United States’ match against Paraguay, the 38-year-old became the oldest player in the history of the US men’s national team to appear at a World Cup. Fifty-three minutes later, Ream made an entirely different type of history: he became the first player at a World Cup to benefit from the International Football Association Board’s “mistaken identity” rule change.

The revision to the laws of the game, made earlier this year, gives referees latitude to use video assisted review to overturn red and yellow cards issued to the incorrect players. The most common application, seemingly, would be a red or yellow card issued during a mass confrontation, where a referee’s view would be obscured. Dutch referee Danny Makkelie’s interpretation on Friday night was different, but correct.

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