Switzerland striker Breel Embolo was shown a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Argentina after picking up his second yellow card of the match. The dismissal came following a VAR review and quickly became one of the game’s biggest talking points, with many fans left confused over how the decision was made.

Breel Embolo breaks down after the decision

The incident occurred in the second half when Embolo ran into Argentina’s penalty area and went down after a challenge from Leandro Paredes. Referee João Pinheiro initially believed the midfielder had committed a foul and showed Paredes a yellow card.

However, the Video Assistant Referee asked the referee to review the incident. After watching the replay, Pinheiro concluded that there was no foul and that Embolo had exaggerated the contact in an attempt to win a free-kick or penalty. Paredes’ yellow card was withdrawn, while Embolo was instead booked for simulation.

It was Embolo’s second yellow card of the match, meaning he was automatically sent off and Switzerland were reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the contest.

FIFA’s updated VAR rule made the decision possible

The dismissal was made possible because of FIFA’s revised VAR protocol introduced for the 2026 World Cup.

Under the updated rule, referees are now allowed to cancel a yellow card shown to one player if a VAR review proves that another player should instead receive the caution for the same incident. In previous tournaments, VAR had very limited authority to intervene in yellow-card decisions unless they involved mistaken identity or a potential red-card offence.

In this case, the referee was able to reverse Paredes’ booking and caution Embolo for simulation after reviewing the footage. Since the Swiss striker had already received an earlier yellow card, the second booking resulted in an automatic red card.

The incident marked one of the clearest examples of FIFA’s new VAR regulations in action and played a significant role in a closely contested World Cup quarterfinal, with the decision drawing widespread discussion among fans and pundits alike.