Switzerland manager Murat Yakin has branded the new law that led to Breel Embolo's sending off against Argentina as 'unacceptable', following a controversial 2-1 extra-time defeat in the World Cup quarter-finals. The Swiss were reduced to 10 men when Embolo received a second yellow card after a VAR review, prompting fury from the bench and players alike.
Controversial sending off changes the game
Forward Breel Embolo was shown two yellow cards by referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro, the second of which came in highly disputed circumstances. Initially, the referee booked Argentina's Leandro Paredes for a foul on Embolo, but replays showed no contact and that the Rennes star had dived. The referee was then instructed by VAR to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor and applied a law introduced ahead of the World Cup. With Embolo already on a yellow card, Pinheiro issued a second booking, reducing Switzerland to 10 men just five minutes after Dan Ndoye had cancelled out Alexis Mac Allister's first-half goal.
Yakin: 'A rule that has nothing to do with football'
Post-match, Yakin fumed: 'There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card. It was a harmless situation. He should have let play continue. We were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. I don't understand it. The fact that they intervened unnecessarily is extremely hurtful. It's a rule that has nothing to do with football. It destroyed our game today. We have to accept it, but it is painful to lose that way.'
Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler described the decision as a 'disaster'. 'I don't know what this referee is doing here,' Freuler added. 'I don't know, I don't understand why they call it for a situation like this, because there were many fouls, made also in the first half, maybe he has to also call them for a yellow card. So I don't understand. How can a VAR change a game with this situation?'
Allegations of favouritism towards Argentina
The flashpoint has prompted more accusations that Argentina are being favoured by FIFA officials, having been on the right side of multiple key decisions in their dramatic last-16 victory over Egypt. Yakin said: 'I wouldn't say they (Argentina) are being favoured. (But) football didn't come out on top, we were punished by a referee mistake. I didn't know this rule before; it's a very harmless situation, a yellow card was awarded, VAR interfered. It was a very meaningful moment for us and it was decisive for the outcome of the match. The VAR and the ref... the fact that they introduced such a rule is just unnecessary. It's extremely hurtful - we missed this opportunity, we're not going to the semi-finals, but I think we deserved to be there.'
Extra-time heartbreak for Switzerland
Despite holding on to take the quarter-final to extra-time, Switzerland eventually succumbed to goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. Instead, it is Argentina who advance to the last four, where they will face England in the semi-final on Wednesday in Atlanta at 8pm UK time. The defeat leaves Switzerland to rue what might have been, with Yakin's side having fought valiantly before the controversial decision swung the momentum.
