IFAB says Embolo's red card against Argentina in World Cup was wrong

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), football's law-making body, has said the decision to send off Switzerland forward Breel Embolo with a second yellow card during the 2026 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina was incorrect.

In a circular published on Tuesday, IFAB said the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention in the incident was not allowed under the current laws of the game. According to IFAB's explanation, for second yellow card decisions, VAR can only intervene to identify cases of mistaken identity. The VAR does not have the authority to decide whether a player actually committed a foul or to change the referee's decision.

In the match in Kansas City, Embolo went down near the box following a challenge from Argentina's Leandro Paredes in the second half. Referee Joao Pinheiro initially showed Paredes a yellow card but, after VAR advice, changed his decision and booked Embolo for simulation. This was Embolo's second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal. Reduced to ten men, Switzerland could not hold on, and Argentina won 3-1 to advance to the semi-finals.

IFAB also said the experimental protocol used at the 2026 World Cup to manage simulation incidents through mistaken identity rules had received positive feedback. However, the protocol will not be formally used until a full review of the VAR protocol is completed.

After the match, Switzerland coach Murat Yakin had strongly criticised Embolo's red card, saying the decision had changed the course of the match. Though Argentina reached the semi-finals, they could not retain the trophy, losing to Spain in the final.