IFAB confirms Embolo red card against Argentina at World Cup was wrongly issued

Football’s law-making body IFAB has confirmed that Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was wrongly sent off in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Argentina in Kansas City, ruling that the VAR intervention used to dismiss him did not comply with the correct protocol.

Embolo received his second yellow card in the 72nd minute after a video review determined he had simulated being fouled by Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes. Paredes was initially shown a yellow card for the challenge, but VAR officials alerted the referee that no foul had been committed — prompting the card to be reversed and Embolo penalised instead. Switzerland had just levelled at 1-1 when the dismissal changed the complexion of the match. Argentina went on to win 3-1 in extra time.

IFAB published a clarification on Monday stating that the “mistaken identity” VAR clause — the mechanism used to justify the review — was not eligible to be applied in that type of incident at the World Cup. Under current protocol, the clause exists solely to correct cases where a card is shown to the wrong player for an offence that was already penalised, not to reverse the nature of the offence itself. IFAB stated the card “can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the offense that was penalized; the offense itself cannot be reviewed/changed.”

The Zurich-based body acknowledged that incidents like Embolo’s are part of an ongoing VAR protocol review that has been underway since March, and noted that the use of the mistaken identity clause to deal with simulation “was well received” during the tournament — while conceding it cannot be formally adopted until that review is concluded.

Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin was unsparing in his assessment after the final whistle. “The referee made the wrong decision,” Yakin said. “This rule destroyed our game today, and it’s very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot.”

The decision had already drawn wider criticism, with Egypt — a previous Argentina opponent at the tournament — among those to suggest referees were favouring Lionel Messi’s side.

IFAB’s clarification was welcomed by UEFA on Tuesday, which used a gathering of referee bosses from all 55 of its member federations to reinforce new decision-making principles for the coming season. UEFA reiterated that “VAR is not meant to re-referee the game,” calling for shorter video reviews and a lighter-touch approach to intervention going forward.

IFAB is composed of FIFA-appointed officials and the four British football associations. Its annual meeting, typically held in February or March, is where updates to the Laws of the Game are ratified ahead of major tournaments and the start of new domestic seasons.