Switzerland's Breel Embolo made history on July 12, 2026, becoming the first player sent off due to a new law regarding mistaken identity during the World Cup. This incident occurred during Switzerland's quarter-final match against Argentina, which ended in a 3-1 defeat for Switzerland in extra time.
Details of the Incident
Embolo had already received a yellow card in the first half when he was controversially shown a second yellow card for simulation after a VAR review. Initially, the card was given to Argentina's Leandro Paredes for a challenge, but the VAR intervention led to the referee Joao Pinheiro reviewing the play. Upon review, Embolo was deemed to have dived, resulting in his red card.
Following the dismissal, Embolo left the field in tears, consoled by his teammates. Swiss coach Murat Yakin expressed his disbelief, stating, "There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card. It was a harmless situation. He should have let play continue."
Impact on the Match
Despite being one man down, Switzerland had equalized just five minutes before Embolo's sending off. Yakin lamented the impact of the new rule on the game, saying, "We were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. It destroyed our game." This sentiment was echoed by pundits, with former MLS striker Bradley Wright-Phillips stating, "He has cost his team maybe getting through to the semi-finals."
