Yaya Sithole abandoned the field of play after knocking down Mexican Brian Gutiérrez outside the area when he was advancing towards the South African goal.
The expulsion, which occurred at the beginning of the second half, was one of the first relevant disciplinary actions of the tournament under the regulatory modifications approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its annual general meeting on February 28, 2026, which came into effect with the start of the World Cup.
In the match between Mexico and South Africa, the Brazilian referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio, 44 years old, applied one of the most visible novelties of the regulation. After reviewing on the monitor the expulsion of South African captain Themba Zwane for an action against Roberto Alvarado, he publicly explained the decision through the stadium’s audio system.
The measure seeks to offer greater clarity to viewers about the decisions made after a VAR review.
One of the striking moments of the meeting occurred during that explanation. Cameras showed South African defender Khuliso Mudau watching the referee’s communication with apparent bewilderment as Sampaio addressed the crowd in English.
In addition, other provisions related to the control of effective playing time were applied during the match. These included the visible count for certain restarts and the time limit established for substituted players to leave the field of play.
These were some of the modifications observed in the debut of the tournament. Other provisions incorporated into the regulations did not have a direct impact on this meeting.
These include the extension of VAR’s powers in specific situations covered by the IFAB, including certain cases related to second yellow cards, identification errors and some decisions to restart play.
Likewise, footballers who receive medical attention must comply with the procedures established by the regulations before returning to the match.
According to the IFAB and FIFA, these modifications seek to increase effective playing time, reduce unnecessary interruptions and promote greater clarity in referee decisions.