Rules panel says sending Swiss player off in World Cup quarterfinals against Argentina was wrong
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Referee Joao Pinheiro (centre), of Portugal, gives a red card to Switzerland's Breel Embolo (left) during the World Cup quarterfinal football match against Argentina in Kansas City, Missouri, Saturday, July 11.
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Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, talks to referee Joao Pinheiro, of Portugal, during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match against Switzerland in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
GENEVA (AP) — Football’s law-making panel clarified its guidance to referees, which confirmed Switzerland forward Breel Embolo should not have been sent off in the World Cup quarterfinals against Argentina.
Embolo’s second yellow card, after a video review for simulating being fouled, changed the momentum of the game in the 72nd minute soon after Switzerland tied the score at 1-1.
Argentina won 3-1 in extra time with help from the red-card decision that fuelled complaints, including from previous opponent Egypt, that referees were favouring Lionel Messi’s team with decisions.
The FIFA-backed rules panel known as IFAB published a clarification Monday that VAR protocol for “mistaken identity” cases was not eligible for that type of incident at the World Cup, though it could be in future competitions.
“However, it may not be used as such until that review is concluded,” the Zurich-based IFAB said in a statement.
Embolo fell to the ground on being challenged by Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, who was shown a yellow card.
The VAR officials alerted the referee to the fact Paredes did not commit a foul and instead Embolo was shown a yellow, his second, and was sent off.
That is not how “mistaken Identity” is currently meant to be applied, which is to correct the referee when a card is shown to the wrong player who did not commit the original foul penalised.
“The referee made the wrong decision,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said after the game in Kansas City.
“I know they will protect their referee, but this rule destroyed our game today, and it’s very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot.”
IFAB clarified the card “can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the offence that was penalised; the offence itself cannot be reviewed/changed.”
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