A FIFA-backed rules panel has clarified that Switzerland forward Breel Embolo should not have been shown a red card in the World Cup quarterfinals against Argentina. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), soccer's law-making body, issued guidance confirming that the video assistant referee (VAR) protocol for "mistaken identity" cases was not applicable to the incident.
Embolo received a second yellow card in the 72nd minute, shortly after Switzerland had equalized the score at 1-1. The card was issued after a video review for simulation, which led to Argentina winning the match 3-1 in extra time. The decision fueled complaints, with some suggesting referees were favoring Lionel Messi's team.
According to the IFAB clarification, the VAR protocol for mistaken identity is intended to correct the referee when a card is shown to the wrong player who did not commit the original offense. In Embolo's case, he fell to the ground after a challenge from Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, who received a yellow card. VAR officials alerted the referee that Paredes had not committed a foul, and instead, Embolo was shown a yellow card, resulting in his dismissal. The IFAB stated that the card "can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the offense that was penalized; the offense itself cannot be reviewed/changed."
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin expressed his frustration after the game, stating, "The referee made the wrong decision. 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."
The review of VAR protocols has been ongoing since March, and incidents like Embolo's are part of the discussion. IFAB acknowledged that the use of the mistaken identity clause to address simulation was well-received for potential use in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
UEFA, the governing body of European football, praised the IFAB's clarity, calling them "welcome explanations." UEFA has been working with referee bosses from its 55 member federations to refine decision-making principles. The organization stressed that "VAR is not meant to re-referee the game" and called for shorter video reviews and a less intrusive approach. UEFA indicated that interventions should be limited to situations where a referee's decision is "blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident."