Almirón did exactly that in Paraguay's second game and was sent off.
Another rule requires substituted players to leave the field within 10 seconds, unless safety or injury prevents it.
This allows players to feign injury to slow the game.
Referees are also inconsistent with injury stoppages. Play often continues while a player lies injured, leaving teams baffled.
Some rules are ignored entirely. Egypt's Mostafa Ziko took off his shirt celebrating a goal—a yellow-card offense—but was not booked.
Similarly, homophobic chants from Mexico fans have gone unpunished despite protocols to suspend matches.
Meanwhile, officials split hairs on other calls.
Croatia's equalizer against Portugal was ruled out because a sensor detected the ball brushing Igor Matanovic's hair, putting Josko Gvardiol offside.
If Matanovic were bald, the goal might have stood.
The handball law has been rewritten so many times that it is now incomprehensible. Fans are bewildered by the constant changes.
>>> Ali G Reboot: A Joke 24 Years Too Late?
FIFA and Ifab must communicate clearly. Instead, they implement untested rules, turning top-level sport into a version of Calvinball.
