A VAR mistake has been confirmed in the controversy surrounding Argentina's 2026 World Cup campaign. The decision to send off Switzerland striker Breel Embolo during the quarter-final clash has been deemed ineligible under the rules of the game's law-making body, IFAB.
Embolo red card controversy
Embolo, already on a yellow card, went down under a suspected challenge from Argentina's Leandro Paredes, who received a booking for the alleged offence. Replays showed Embolo was not touched and had dived to deceive the referee. The official used the revised 'mistaken identity' law to review the incident and issued a red card to Embolo.
However, IFAB stated that the incident was not eligible for review. In a statement, IFAB said: "A yellow card (caution) other than a second yellow card can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the sanctioned offence; the offence itself cannot be reviewed or amended.
"The use of the mistaken identity clause to address simulation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup was well received and will be included in the detailed review of the VAR protocol (...) However, it may not be used as such until that review is concluded."
Switzerland's reaction
At the time, Switzerland were level in the contest and pushing for a winning goal. Instead, they were forced to hold on until extra time and eventually lost to Argentina. Switzerland coach Murat Yakin reacted angrily, saying: "The VAR and referee, the fact they introduced such a rule is unnecessary and I try to put it in very kind words but I think it is extremely hurtful. We are not going to go to the semi-finals but I think we deserved to be there.
"We were punished for a rule that is completely unacceptable. I don't understand. It is very painful we are eliminated that way. I don't think we deserved it and in my opinion our boys are the real heroes.
"The referee makes that one decision that he interfered, it is completely misunderstandable. That is a situation that happened many times previously. He awarded a yellow card. This rule destroyed our game today.
"There was definitely no reason to award that yellow card, I don't understand it, it was a harmless situation, he should have let the ball freely."
Broader controversy
Argentina lost in the World Cup final, but the fallout from the controversies surrounding their 2026 campaign continues. La Albiceleste were criticised for their aggressive approach in several knockout matches, with accusations of thuggish tackles. Some online conspiracy theories suggested referees deliberately favoured Argentina, though most claims were unfounded.
