Embolo sent off for simulation as VAR's mistaken identity rule rocks Switzerland against Argentina

Breel Embolo was sent off in Switzerland’s World Cup quarter-final against Argentina after VAR applied football’s new mistaken identity rule, overturning a yellow card shown to Leandro Paredes and issuing it to the Swiss forward instead for simulation — his second booking of the match.

The Rennes forward had gone to ground seeking a foul from the Boca Juniors midfielder, but Portuguese referee João Pinheiro was directed to the pitchside monitor and instructed to reverse his decision. The stadium announcement confirmed the ruling: “After review, there is no foul for number five, number seven, there is clear simulation, final decision, yellow card number seven.”

Embolo had already been walking a disciplinary tightrope after a reckless challenge on Paredes just before half-time. His dismissal came only five minutes after Switzerland had levelled the match, making the timing particularly damaging for the European side.

The rule was introduced by IFAB ahead of this summer’s tournament and had already been used earlier in the competition when USA’s Tim Ream had his yellow card rescinded for a challenge on Miguel Almiron, who was then cautioned for diving. FIFA’s chief officiating officer Pierluigi Collina had championed the regulation, which allows a booking or sending-off to be reassigned if VAR determines the original decision was directed at the wrong player.

Switzerland had been growing into the game in the second half when the red card arrived. They had fallen behind inside 10 minutes when Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister outjumped Manuel Akanji to open the scoring. Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye restored parity with a composed finish from a tight angle after a neat one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez down the left.

Embolo had to be restrained after the referee’s decision was confirmed and was visibly inconsolable as he left the pitch. The dismissal means he would also miss the semi-final against England, who had earlier beaten Norway 2-1 after extra-time, should Switzerland progress despite finishing the quarter-final a man down.