Story by Amos Murphy
Argentina may have lost in the World Cup final, but the fallout from the controversies surrounding their 2026 campaign refuses to go away. La Albiceleste were shamed for their approach during several different knockout matches, with suggestions their players were acting like thugs by charging into tackles.
Some online conspiracy theories even went as far as suggesting that the referees at the World Cup were deliberately favouring Argentina. While a lot of the claims were fanciful at best, new information has come to light suggesting one decision that went in Argentina’s favour might’ve been wrong after all.
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It relates to the red card Switzerland’s Breel Embolo picked up during the quarter-final clash against the 2022 winners. Already on a yellow card, Embolo went down under a suspected challenge from Argentina’s Leandro Paredes, who received a booking of his own for the alleged offence.
Except, on replay, it became clear that Embolo wasn’t touched at all, with the attacker having flung himself to the floor in an attempt to con the referee. The referee made use of the revised ‘mistaken identity’ law to review the challenge, with Embolo having been sent off as a result.
But according to the FIFA-backed rules panel known as IFAB, the incident – despite how obvious Embolo’s dive looked – was not eligible for review. In a statement, IFAB said: “A yellow card (caution) other than a second yellow card can only be reviewed to identify the player who committed the sanctioned offence; the offence itself cannot be reviewed or amended.
“The use of the mistaken identity clause to address simulation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup was well received and will be included in the detailed review of the VAR protocol (…) However, it may not be used as such until that review is concluded.”
It came at a time when Switzerland were level in the contest and pushing hard for a winning goal. Instead, they were forced to hold on until extra time and eventually lost to the South American side.
Reacting at the time, Switzerland boss Murat Yakin said: “The VAR and referee, the fact they introduced such a rule is unnecessary and I try to put it in very kind words but I think it is extremely hurtful. We are not going to go to the semi-finals but I think we deserved to be there.
“We were punished for a rule that is completely unacceptable. I don’t understand. It is very painful we are eliminated that way. I don’t think we deserved it and in my opinion our boys are the real heroes.
“The referee makes that one decision that he interfered, it is completely misunderstandable. That is a situation that happened many times previously. He awarded a yellow card. This rule destroyed our game today.
“There was definitely no reason to award that yellow card, I don’t understand it, it was a harmless situation, he should have let the ball freely.”
