arg vs switzerland: Why did Embolo get a red card? What is FIFA’s new VAR rule that ended Switzerland’s game?

Switzerland reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954 and gave a tough fight to defending champions Argentina. Argentina had taken the lead at the beginning of the match. Alexis McAllister gave the team an early lead with a brilliant header from Lionel Messi’s corner.

Argentina made it to the semi-finals
After this, Argentina could not double its lead and Switzerland made a brilliant comeback. Nottingham Forest forward Dan Ndoye made a brilliant move from the left end and scored the equalizing goal. After this goal it seemed that Switzerland could pull off a big upset. But the biggest turning point of the match came just a few minutes later.

This dive from Embolo gets funnier every time you watch it.

What was he thinking when he went down like that?😭pic.twitter.com/oqPQMQXXnr

— MC (@CrewsMat10) July 12, 2026

Why did Briel Embolo get a red card?
Portugal referee Joao Pinheiro first showed Argentina’s Leandro Paredes a yellow card for fouling Embolo. After this the VAR officials called him on the monitor. Replays showed Embolo had already fallen without any contact. The referee changed his decision and considered it a simulation i.e. a deliberate attempt to take a foul, because Embolo had already received a yellow card, so he was shown a second yellow card and given a red card.

Embolo red card 👇

First one is not a foul according to the referee even tho there was a contact.

Second one is a foul.

FIFA should end this tournament and give the trophy to Argentina, all this is crazy at this point!🤦🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/lTB4OOGMyR

— Depegan of Lagos 🇳🇬🇺🇸 (@Mautiin01) July 12, 2026

Embolo was completely stunned by this decision. He argued with the referee for a long time. But after what was seen in VAR, the decision did not change. He had tears in his eyes while leaving the field, while his teammates also continued to protest.

What is FIFA’s new VAR rule?
This was the first time in FIFA World Cup history that a player was shown a red card under the new ‘Mistaken Identity VAR Protocol’. According to this rule, if the referee shows a card to a player on the basis of mistaken identity or there is doubt about the true reason for the incident, then VAR can review it and the decision can also be changed.

Earlier in the group stage, America’s captain Tim Ream had become the first player to get the benefit of this rule. The yellow card shown to him was withdrawn after a VAR review.

Argentina turned the tables in the last few minutes
Even with 10 players, Switzerland fought brilliantly and took the match to extra time. But in the 112th minute, Argentina’s Julian Alvarez gave the team the lead again with a brilliant curling shot. After this, Lautaro Martínez scored the third goal in stoppage time to ensure Argentina’s 3-1 victory.

With this victory, defending champion Argentina made it to the World Cup semi-finals for the second consecutive time. Now he will face England in Atlanta on 16 July. The first major action of the new VAR rule and Embolo’s red card remained the most talked about topic throughout the match.