New Delhi: As the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and Switzerland ended with a 3-1 win for the former, the Swiss winger Breel Embolo became the fourth player in the tournament’s history to have been sent off for diving. The decision came after a VAR review overturned a foul on Argentina’s Leandro Paredes and penalised Embolo.
The incident occurred in the 72nd minute when Paredes was initially shown a yellow card for the challenge, but VAR intervened, and the replay showed that Embolo conducted a simulation to go to the ground. Since Embolo was already on a yellow card, a second yellow meant a red for the winger, leaving Switzerland with ten men on the pitch.
Argentina maintained pressure after the red card, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez to seal a 3-1 victory after 120 minutes.
Previous instances of being sent off from the field involved Mexico’s Luis Pérez (2006 vs Portugal), Gyan (2006 vs Brazil), and Italy’s Francesco Totti (2002 vs South Korea).
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‘Embolo has cost his team’
Embolo’s dismissal drew sharp criticism from the Swiss camp.
“There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card. It was a harmless situation. He should have let play continue,” the Swiss coach Murat Yakin said. “It destroyed our game. We have to accept it, but it is painful to lose that way.”
While the Swiss forward drew some sympathy from his camp, football experts watching the match showed none.
Bradley Wright-Phillips, the former Major League Soccer striker, said, “I feel for Embolo’s teammates; I don’t feel for him. He has cost his team maybe getting through to the semifinals.”
The send-off decision left the Swiss forward in tears as he was escorted off the pitch. Embolo also became the first player to be handed a red card as a result of a new law for “mistaken identity” at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The “mistaken identity” protocol allows referees and VAR to correct cases where the wrong player is penalised for an offence.
The incident adds another layer to the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s narrative of VAR controversies and tight contests. As the tournament progresses, teams will need to balance aggression with composure to avoid similar costly decisions.
For Switzerland, the loss ended a resilient campaign. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they fought until the final whistle but could not overcome Argentina’s quality. The South American team will now advance to the semis, where it will face a confident English side.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)