Embolo sent off for simulation as 10-man Switzerland face Argentina in World Cup quarters

Breel Embolo was dismissed in the 72nd minute of Switzerland’s World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina after VAR determined the striker had simulated contact to win a foul, leaving his side to defend with ten men against the defending world champions.

The incident began when Leandro Paredes appeared to catch Embolo’s heel inside the box. Referee João Pedro Silva Pinheiro initially cautioned Paredes for the challenge, but play was halted for a VAR review. Officials concluded there had been no contact, reversed the yellow card against Paredes, and booked Embolo for simulation instead. Because Embolo had already been cautioned in the first half, the second yellow automatically became a red.

FOX Sports rules analyst and former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg explained the mechanics of the decision. “What the VAR believes is that there was no contact and the yellow card is unjust, and actually the Swiss player was diving. So, what the referee can do in his power is that he can reverse the yellow card and give it to the Swiss player,” Clattenburg said.

However, Clattenburg expressed reservations about the severity of the outcome. “The problem with this is, the Swiss player is already on a yellow card from the first half, and that would, for me, be very harsh to give a second yellow card for a simulation.”

The protocol applied by Pinheiro echoed a precedent set earlier in the tournament, when officials used VAR to reverse an unjust yellow card in a group stage match involving the United States and Paraguay. Clattenburg drew a direct parallel: “What we saw in the United States game earlier in the tournament was that they changed the yellow card over because Tim Ream was the one alleged to have given the foul and the Paraguay player was eventually given the yellow card. In this situation, again, it should be reversed and the yellow card should go to the Swiss player. Unfortunately, he’s already on a yellow card from the first half.”

Switzerland must now see out the remainder of the quarterfinal a man down against Argentina.