KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Switzerland's forward Breel Embolo was controversially sent off during the World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina on Saturday after a video assistant referee (VAR) review deemed him guilty of simulation. The incident occurred in the second half of the match, which ended in a 3-1 extra-time loss for Switzerland.
Initially, Leandro Paredes received a yellow card for a tackle, but VAR intervened, revealing that Embolo had begun to fall before any contact was made. Since Embolo had already been booked earlier in the match, the red card left Switzerland with only 10 players while the score was tied at 1-1.
Embolo's Red Card and Its Impact
Following the match, Swiss defender Nico Elvedi expressed his disbelief over VAR's decision, stating, "I just don't understand how VAR can make that kind of decision." This pivotal moment shifted the match's momentum, especially after Dan Ndoye had equalized for Switzerland moments before.
Switzerland's coach, Murat Yakin, voiced his frustration, saying, "We were dominant. We controlled the game. But the red card, we are punished because of a rule that is, to me, absolutely incomprehensible." He lamented that the decision was a significant blow to their chances of advancing in the tournament.
The Controversial VAR Decision
This incident marks the second time in World Cup history that a yellow card has been overturned using the "mistaken identity" protocol. This rule allows VAR to step in when an incorrect player is penalized. Yakin noted, "They protect their referee over a rule that destroyed our game today. That hurts enormously."
Yakin further criticized the referee's initial decision, stating, "For a situation where beforehand there should have been yellow cards several times, he gave a yellow card in a situation that, to me, was a harmless foul — or if it was even a foul at all."
Embolo's Reaction and Team's Sentiments
Embolo was visibly emotional after receiving the red card and was consoled by teammates on the sideline. Yakin remarked, "You can imagine how Breel feels. He had been attacked several times beforehand, and he had two or three good phases in the attacking game. But afterward, he could no longer help the team."
Swiss captain Granit Xhaka added, "I think the red card changed our game. This decision was difficult to accept now after the game because the dressing room was very quiet, disappointed." The match ultimately concluded with late goals from Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez, sealing Switzerland's fate in the tournament.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by ESPN Soccer. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
