​Follow for live updates from the Argentina-Switzerland quarterfinal! The second half of the World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Switzerland is heating up. Breel Embolo received a yellow card for simulation during a confrontation with Argentina’s Leandro Paredes on Saturday, July 11. This was Embolo’s second booking of the match, resulting in a red card and his sending off. Initially, the yellow card was issued to Paredes, but after a VAR review, officials determined that Embolo embellished the contact. As a result, Paredes’ card was withdrawn and the foul was attributed to Embolo.
“Mistaken identity” describes a situation where a referee issues a yellow or red card to the wrong player in a match. In such cases, officials consult VAR to review the decision and determine whether the original call was correct. If the review shows the foul was attributed to the wrong player, the correct reprimand is assigned to the proper participant, and the mistaken identity is acknowledged.
In this Argentina–Switzerland game, officials initially believed Paredes caused Embolo to fall, which would justify a caution for Paredes. After video review, it became clear there was no contact between the players, and Embolo was penalized for simulation rather than Paredes for a perceived foul.
This piece originally appeared on USA TODAY, explaining the concept of “mistaken identity” and how it applies to the Argentina vs. Switzerland match, for better SEO understanding in coverage of the World Cup.