USA benefited from the first case of VAR intervening over mistaken identity in World Cup history.

Yellow cards can now be reviewed for blatant errors as part of the wave of new rules introduced ahead of this tournament.

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The referee overturned his yellow for Tim Ream to give it to Miguel Almiron

Referee Danny Makkelie booked the former Newcastle man Credit: Reuters

And the mistaken identity check was needed early in the second half of USA’s opening game against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

The referee initially booked Tim Ream for an apparent foul on Miguel Almiron.

Ream slid in on the ex-Newcastle playmaker and seemed to bring him down.

However, after the VARs in the booth watched the replay, ref Danny Makkelie was advised to go over to the pitchside monitor.

And then he reversed his decision because Almiron had actually dived.

Makkelie indicated that the Ream’s yellow was wiped out and instead he brandished the card to Almiron.

More to follow…

Tim Ream slid in on Almiron early in the second half Credit: Reuters

The referee explained his decision after watching the replay Credit: Getty