Soccer rules panel clarifies VAR process that World Cup red card for Switzerland's Embolo was wrong
The IFAB has clarified that the VAR protocol used to send off Switzerland's Breel Embolo during a World Cup match against Argentina was incorrectly applied. The panel confirmed that 'mistaken identity' rules do not currently allow for the review of simulation incidents, acknowledging that the referee's decision was technically flawed.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing controversies regarding the implementation of VAR technology in high-stakes international sports and the potential for officiating errors to alter tournament outcomes.
Soccer's law-making panel clarified its guidance to referees which confirmed Switzerland forward Breel Embolo should not have been sent off in the World Cup quarter-finals against Argentina. Embolo's second yellow card, after a video review for simulating being fouled, changed the momentum of the game in the 72nd minute soon after Switzerland tied the score at 1-1.
Argentina won 3-1 in extra time with help from the red-card decision that fuelled complaints, including from previous opponent Egypt, referees were favouring Lionel Messi's team with decisions.
The FIFA-backed rules panel known as IFAB published a clarification on Monday (July 27, 2026) that VAR protocol for "mistaken identity" cases was not eligible for that type of incident at the World Cup, though it could be in future competitions. "However, it may not be used as such until that review is concluded," the Zurich-based IFAB said in a statement.
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