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It can sometimes feel as though nothing in soccer is set in stone: every aspect of the game is open to revision.
The substitute allowance has increased, VAR's reach continues to grow, and two halves will be replaced by four quarters at this summer's World Cup. England's friendly against Uruguay on Friday even called into question one of the sport's most basic mathematical principles: it now appears that two yellow cards don't necessarily lead to a red. At least not for Manuel Ugarte.
Manchester United's Uruguayan midfielder appeared to have been booked twice in the second half of a thoroughly dull pre-World Cup friendly at Wembley Stadium, yet somehow departed the pitch as a substitute rather than being shown the door.
This glaring violation of the laws of the game raised serious questions about referee Sven Jablonski and brought to mind a famous quote from Manchester United legend Denis Law. "The only thing that has never changed in the history of the game," the Scotsman once remarked, "is the shape of the ball." For now, anyway.
Manuel Ugarte's Two Yellow Cards vs. England
70th minute: Foul on Cole Palmer
In a sense, Ugarte deserves credit for injecting some life into a lifeless match in front of 80,000 fans who had long since checked out of the sluggish affair in north London.
Cole Palmer had been trying to shake off the collective lethargy with something rare—a run toward the byline—in the 70th minute when Ugarte came barreling toward his Premier League counterpart. The Chelsea forward sensed the 24-year-old's heavy approach over the subdued murmur of fans folding their programmes into paper planes, and smartly played the ball away, leaving his leg out as a trap that Ugarte eagerly walked into.
The referee promptly blew his whistle and awarded a free kick, drawing protests from Uruguay captain José Maria Giménez. As confirmed by multiple broadcasters, Ugarte was shown his first yellow card for the characteristically clumsy challenge.
81st minute: Dissent
Ten minutes later, with England leading 1–0 and tensions rising, Ugarte got into an exchange with the match official that resulted in an unmistakable yellow card being produced.
The United midfielder is no newcomer to bookings on English soil: in his debut season at Old Trafford, only three players across the entire Premier League accumulated more yellow cards than his tally of 11.
However, two bookings in the same match would ordinarily result in a red card — which, astonishingly, never materialized on Friday evening.
Fourth Official's Explanation for Manuel Ugarte's Double Booking
While some outlets suggested that Giménez had been shown the yellow card in the 70th minute for his complaints rather than Ugarte being punished for the foul, ITV Sport reported during the broadcast that fourth official Benjamin Brand confirmed both bookings had been issued to the Manchester United player.
After a period of bewildered discussion, Brand was quoted as stating that Ugarte's second yellow card had been "rescinded."
VAR was operational during the friendly — with Sören Storks assigned to the monitors — however, video assistant referees are not empowered to rescind yellow cards unless there has been a case of mistaken identity. There is little ambiguity that it was Ugarte who was booked for what appeared to be dissent in the 81st minute.
One of the rule changes planned for the 2026 World Cup includes expanding VAR's authority to cover second yellow cards in all situations, but that doesn't come into effect until June.
Thomas Tuchel Savages Referee Sven Jablonski
England manager Thomas Tuchel had plenty to be frustrated about following Friday's 1–1 draw. Beyond his side's underwhelming display, the German tactician questioned why Ronald Araújo escaped a red card for a reckless challenge on Phil Foden, and also objected to what he called a "very, very soft" stoppage-time penalty awarded against England goalscorer Ben White.
And then there was the yellow card debacle.
"I didn't speak to him [the referee] after the match," Tuchel said. "I don't want to. I think it was not a good performance at all throughout the match.
"Like I said, I cannot understand [how] a tackle like that isn't even reviewed, and I think the penalty at the end was very, very soft. And then there were debates about a player receiving two yellow cards in the same match without being sent off," Tuchel added, glancing toward England's press officer in disbelief before turning back to the assembled journalists with a wry smile and an exaggerated shrug. "Bad day at the office."