Embolo's Controversial Red Card for Diving Swings Quarter-Final in Argentina's Favour

Argentina reached the last four of the 2026 World Cup after their 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the quarter-final, played overnight from Saturday to Sunday. But the result is already overshadowed by a refereeing decision that has ignited the tournament.

The turning point came during a VAR sequence that reversed the scenario. The referee had initially cautioned Leandro Paredes with a yellow card following contact with Breel Embolo. After reviewing the footage, he reversed his decision, cancelled the Argentine’s caution and issued a second yellow card to the Swiss striker for diving. Already booked, Embolo was sent off. Switzerland, who were dominating the match at that moment, found themselves down to ten men.

Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler made no attempt to hide his anger when speaking to the press. “It’s just a disaster, I don’t know what the referee is doing, I don’t know why he’s being called for this kind of situation. I don’t understand how VAR can change the match like this, not let the referee decide,” he said.

This episode is part of a series of refereeing controversies that have marked the competition. A few days earlier, in the round of 16, a goal disallowed for Egypt against Argentina had prompted an official reaction from the Egyptian Football Federation, which referred the matter to FIFA. The EFA had accused French referee François Letexier of “double standards” and “discrimination”, calling for his exclusion from the rest of the tournament.

On the Argentine side, Lionel Scaloni and his players left the pitch relieved, aware they had once again narrowly avoided elimination. The defending world champions struggled physically throughout the match, as has been the case since the start of the tournament. They will now face one of the two winners of the other quarter-finals for a place in the final.