What was the mistaken identity red card shown in Argentina vs Switzerland?

Switzerland's World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina was marked by a contentious red card incident involving forward Breel Embolo. Embolo became the first player in the tournament to be sent off due to a VAR review for mistaken identity. The situation unfolded in the 72nd minute when Argentina's Leandro Paredes initially received a yellow card for a foul on Embolo. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system prompted a review, leading to a reversal of the decision. Referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro, after consulting VAR, rescinded Paredes's yellow card and instead issued a second yellow to Embolo, resulting in his dismissal. Embolo was already on a booking, and the second yellow card meant he had to leave the field. The match was evenly balanced at 1-1 with less than 20 minutes remaining when the incident occurred. Swiss players and staff protested the decision, but the referee's call stood. Embolo was visibly upset, in tears as he left the pitch, consoled by his teammates. Mistaken identity in football, as defined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), occurs when a referee penalizes the wrong player. VAR technology now allows for such errors to be identified and corrected, though its application in this instance proved highly impactful on the game's outcome.

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Mistaken identity is when the referee shows a yellow or red card but has clearly penalised the wrong player of either team for the offence in question.