​A decision destined to spark debate. In the 72nd minute of Argentina-Switzerland, with the game tied at 1-1 and the Swiss enjoying their best spell, Breel Embolo was sent off for a second yellow after a VAR review. Do you want to stay updated on everything happening in the USA, Mexico, and Canada? Don’t forget to bookmark the World Cup! To follow the tournament, search for “World Cup” on OneFootball and click the star next to it so you don’t miss a single story.
Referee João Pinheiro initially ruled a foul on Paredes, but the footage changed everything: the yellow for the Argentine was overturned, the Swiss forward was booked for simulation, and Embolo was dismissed. Murat Yakin’s side held on until extra time before succumbing to goals from Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez, sealing a 3-1 final scoreline.
On social media, the match is far from over: accusations of bias, divergent interpretations of the rules, and one question that has gone viral. Was Embolo’s sending-off truly the correct call?
Switzerland had just leveled in the 67th minute through Dan Ndoye, erasing Argentina’s lead from Alexis Mac Allister. Five minutes later, Embolo, who had already been booked in the first half for a late challenge on Paredes, attempted to get past the Argentine midfielder and went down after contact. Pinheiro whistled for a foul and showed Paredes a yellow card. VAR then instructed the referee to review at the monitor: according to the officials’ reconstruction, Embolo had begun to go down before any possible contact, attempting to win a free kick through simulation. The Portuguese referee overturned Paredes’ booking and issued a second yellow to the Swiss player, who left the pitch in tears.
The review was not a procedural mistake. New provisions approved by IFAB in 2026 allow VAR to intervene on red cards stemming from a clearly incorrect second yellow and in cases of “mistaken identity,” when the wrong player or even the wrong team is punished. In this case in Kansas City, the officiating team determined that it was Embolo who simulated rather than Paredes who infringed. The rules thus permitted the initial decision to be overturned, reversing the punishment and booking the striker. From a procedural standpoint, the intervention was permitted.
Yet the real debate centers on the technical assessment: was Embolo’s fall a clear dive, or simply a normal attempt to avoid Paredes’ challenge? The footage shows Embolo losing balance before the more significant contact, but the subjective nature of the incident is exactly what fueled the protests. Several international analyses judged the sending-off correct from a regulatory perspective. Christina Unkel, former FIFA referee and CBS Sports analyst, argued that the decision aligns with established precedents, including the Miguel Almirón incident in United States-Portugal, reinforcing the view that the ruling adheres to the letter of the law.