Yakin brands Embolo's VAR red card 'completely unacceptable' after Switzerland's World Cup exit

Switzerland were eliminated from the World Cup at the quarterfinal stage on Saturday after a 3-1 extra-time defeat to Argentina, a result overshadowed by the controversial VAR-assisted dismissal of forward Breel Embolo that left the Swiss playing with 10 men from the 67th minute.

Embolo had already been booked earlier in the match when Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was shown a yellow card for a tackle on the Swiss forward. Video review, however, revealed that Embolo had begun falling before Paredes made contact, triggering the ‘mistaken identity’ protocol — a rule that allows the VAR to intervene when an incorrect player has been carded. The yellow was transferred to Embolo, his second of the game, and he was sent off.

The decision came moments after Dan Ndoye had equalised to make it 1-1, and Switzerland — reduced to 10 men — still managed to force extra time. But Julián Alvarez struck from long range in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez added a third shortly after to seal Argentina’s place in the semi-finals.

“We were punished because of a rule that, in my opinion, is completely unacceptable,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said after the final whistle. “It’s very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don’t think we deserve that today, and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes. They put all their heart and their passion into their performance. I am very proud. They are very proud.”

Yakin also directed criticism at Portuguese referee João Pinheiro. “The referee made the wrong decision,” he said. “It was, in my opinion, a harmless foul, if it even was a foul. 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.”

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka echoed his manager’s frustration. “I think the red card changed our game,” Xhaka said. “This decision was difficult to accept now after the game because the dressing room was very quiet, disappointed.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, for his part, acknowledged the role fortune played. “Luck was on our side because one of their players was sent off,” Scaloni said.

It was only the second time the ‘mistaken identity’ protocol had been used at this World Cup. The controversy adds to a broader officiating debate at the tournament: earlier in the week, the Egyptian Football Association publicly criticised the refereeing in their round-of-16 loss to Argentina, prompting FIFA’s chief of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, to defend the integrity of the match officials.