VAR Red Card Controversy
Embolo Receives Red Card for Simulation After VAR Review, Crippling Switzerland's World Cup Bid
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Key Points
1
Referee Joao Pinheiro explained the call on the pitch, stating on the broadcast that there was no foul by Leandro Paredes and that Embolo’s action constituted a clear simulation, resulting in Embolo being booked with a second yellow.
2
Under the World Cup’s VAR procedures, the event highlighted a ‘mistaken identity’ check that allowed officials to overturn the initial decision and switch the yellow from Paredes to Embolo, effectively ruling Embolo’s tackle as simulation.
3
During the 75th-minute hydration break, Granit Xhaka was seen approaching Pinheiro and vocally remonstrating with the referee over the decision, underscoring Switzerland’s fury at the call.
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Denis Zakaria was heard shouting at the official and pleading for the yellow card to not be handed out, illustrating the emotional intensity on the Swiss bench after the red card decision.
Breel Embolo was sent off in tears during Switzerland's 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, leaving his team with 10 men for the final 18 minutes after a stunning VAR reversal. The video review overturned a yellow card against Argentina's Leandro Paredes and instead booked Embolo for simulation — his second yellow of the match, which triggered an automatic red. The Independent reported that Embolo was visibly distraught as he walked off the pitch.
The dismissal came at the worst possible moment. Switzerland had just equalised through Dan Ndoye after Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring for Argentina. With the match level and a semi-final spot on the line, losing their forward changed everything.
How a Mistaken Identity Call Sent Embolo Off
The sequence started with a clash between Embolo and Paredes. Referee Joao Pinheiro initially showed Paredes a yellow card. But VAR flagged a 'mistaken identity' — a procedure that lets officials correct who was actually at fault. After a pitchside review, Pinheiro reversed the call. The yellow went to Embolo instead. Because Embolo had already been booked earlier in the match, the second yellow became a red.
Pinheiro explained the decision on the broadcast. He stated clearly that Paredes had committed no foul and that Embolo's action was a clear simulation. AOL reported that Embolo left the field in tears, overwhelmed by the ruling that ended his World Cup.
Swiss Players Erupt in Fury at the Referee
Switzerland's reaction was instant and intense. During the 75th-minute hydration break, captain Granit Xhaka walked straight up to Pinheiro and remonstrated loudly. He was not alone. Denis Zakaria was heard shouting at officials from the bench, pleading for the card to be taken back. The Swiss bench was in uproar.
The emotional scenes underlined how much was at stake. A quarter-final of the World Cup, the score level at 1-1, and now Switzerland down to 10 men with nearly 20 minutes still to play. The odds had shifted dramatically against them in a matter of seconds.
VAR Bias Debate Flares Around Argentina Again
The red card quickly sparked a wider argument about officiating at this World Cup. Some observers and fans pointed to the decision as evidence of bias toward Argentina, the defending champions. The idea that a VAR intervention had punished Switzerland — and helped Argentina — fed into pre-existing suspicions about how big nations are treated, according to Yahoo Sports.
Those debates are not new. VAR has divided opinion at every major tournament since its introduction. But moments like this — a red card in a quarter-final, decided by a pitchside review — keep the controversy alive. Switzerland's campaign ended in the quarter-finals, and the manner of it will not be forgotten quickly.
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