IFAB says VAR erred in Embolo's World Cup red card

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has issued a clarification, stating that Switzerland striker Breel Embolo was wrongly sent off during a World Cup quarter-final match against Argentina. The governing body for the Laws of the Game confirmed that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol was misapplied in the incident.

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a yellow card, which is not a second yellow card, can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the foul; the foul itself cannot be reviewed/modified.

According to French sports daily L’Equipe, IFAB issued a circular explaining that VAR can only be used to review the identity of a player being cautioned, not to reverse the foul itself, particularly in simulation situations. The referee initially booked Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes for a challenge on Embolo. However, VAR intervened, prompting the official to review the incident and ultimately cancel Paredes’ yellow card, instead cautioning Embolo for simulation.

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VAR could intervene in cases of error over the identity of a cautioned player, “but not to reverse the sanction, particularly in simulation situations.”

This decision drew significant criticism at the time, with Switzerland coach Murat Yakin describing the rule application as having “destroyed the game.” Embolo left the field in tears following the dismissal. Social media reactions also questioned the decision, with some users suggesting that Argentinian players would have received multiple cards if simulation calls were applied consistently. The IFAB clarification now makes it clear that officials should not have reversed the original sanction because there was no error in identifying the player cautioned.

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destroyed the game.

The episode highlights ongoing debates surrounding the expanded role of VAR in major tournaments and the consistency of its application. The incident occurred on July 11 in Kansas City and has reignited discussions about the technology's impact on the sport.

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Regardless of whether it is valid or not, if we had to hand out a yellow card for simulation, the Argentines would have finished the matches with 7 or 8 players.