Argentina bias at FIFA World Cup? Switzerland coach slams unacceptable Embolo red card
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin blasted the rule behind Breel Embolo's controversial red card as "unacceptable" after Argentina scored twice in extra time to seal a 3-1 win and end the Swiss fairytale in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
The debate over whether Argentina have benefited from favourable refereeing decisions at the FIFA World Cup intensified on Saturday after Switzerland coach Murat Yakin slammed the decision that led to Breel Embolo's controversial red card in the quarter-final.
Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to reach the semi-finals, where Lionel Messi's side will face England. But the talking point after the match was not Julian Alvarez's stunning winner or Lautaro Martinez's late goal. Instead, it was a VAR intervention that left the Switzerland camp furious and reignited accusations of bias towards the defending champions on social media.
Argentina have enjoyed one of the most successful periods in their history, winning the Copa America, Finalissima and the World Cup. Their performances have earned widespread praise, but almost every contentious refereeing decision involving Lionel Messi's side has also sparked allegations from rival fans that FIFA favours the reigning champions. There is no evidence to support those claims, but the latest controversy has once again fuelled the debate.
The incident came moments after Dan Ndoye had equalised in the 67th minute. Referee Joao Pinheiro initially booked Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes for a challenge on Embolo. VAR then reviewed the incident and ruled that the Swiss striker had started falling before any contact was made.
Paredes' yellow card was overturned, while Embolo was instead booked for simulation under the tournament's mistaken identity protocol. Since the Switzerland striker had already been cautioned earlier in the match, the second yellow card resulted in his dismissal.
The decision stunned the Switzerland players and quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the tournament. Videos of the incident spread rapidly across social media. Many fans questioned the intervention and accused the officials of favouring Argentina. Others argued that Embolo had attempted to earn a foul and that the decision was correct under the laws of the game.
Despite going down to 10 men, Switzerland held firm for more than 40 minutes. They looked set to force a penalty shootout before Julian Alvarez curled a superb strike into the top corner in the 112th minute. Lautaro Martinez added another goal late in extra time to seal Argentina's place in the last four.
'NO REASON TO AWARD YELLOW CARD'
Yakin did not hide his frustration after the final whistle. The Switzerland coach said the dismissal changed the course of the contest.
"There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card," Yakin said.
"It was a harmless situation. He should have let play continue. We were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. I don't understand it. The fact that they intervened unnecessarily is extremely hurtful. It's a rule that has nothing to do with football."
Yakin felt Switzerland had seized control after recovering from Alexis Mac Allister's early goal.
"We came back from a goal down against the world champions and we had the momentum," he said.
"We were dominating and controlling the match. Then we were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. It destroyed our game today. We have to accept it, but it is painful to lose that way."
The Switzerland coach praised his players for pushing the world champions all the way despite playing more than 50 minutes with 10 men.
"My boys are the real heroes," Yakin said.
Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler also questioned the VAR intervention and called for an explanation from FIFA.
"I'm very proud of the team. You could tell that we gave 100%," Freuler said. "I don't understand how VAR can make such a decision, and FIFA has to explain it to us."
Embolo left the pitch in tears after the red card and was consoled by his teammates. Yakin backed his striker and blamed the officials for the outcome.
"He was fouled many times and he had a few very good moments in this game, but then he couldn't help the team any more," Yakin said.
"I don't blame him. Obviously, he is shattered because he could not help the team. It was a refereeing mistake."
The defeat ended Switzerland's first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 1954. It also denied them a place in the last four for the first time in their history.
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The debate over whether Argentina have benefited from favourable refereeing decisions at the FIFA World Cup intensified on Saturday after Switzerland coach Murat Yakin slammed the decision that led to Breel Embolo's controversial red card in the quarter-final.
Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to reach the semi-finals, where Lionel Messi's side will face England. But the talking point after the match was not Julian Alvarez's stunning winner or Lautaro Martinez's late goal. Instead, it was a VAR intervention that left the Switzerland camp furious and reignited accusations of bias towards the defending champions on social media.
Argentina have enjoyed one of the most successful periods in their history, winning the Copa America, Finalissima and the World Cup. Their performances have earned widespread praise, but almost every contentious refereeing decision involving Lionel Messi's side has also sparked allegations from rival fans that FIFA favours the reigning champions. There is no evidence to support those claims, but the latest controversy has once again fuelled the debate.
The incident came moments after Dan Ndoye had equalised in the 67th minute. Referee Joao Pinheiro initially booked Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes for a challenge on Embolo. VAR then reviewed the incident and ruled that the Swiss striker had started falling before any contact was made.
Paredes' yellow card was overturned, while Embolo was instead booked for simulation under the tournament's mistaken identity protocol. Since the Switzerland striker had already been cautioned earlier in the match, the second yellow card resulted in his dismissal.
The decision stunned the Switzerland players and quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the tournament. Videos of the incident spread rapidly across social media. Many fans questioned the intervention and accused the officials of favouring Argentina. Others argued that Embolo had attempted to earn a foul and that the decision was correct under the laws of the game.
Despite going down to 10 men, Switzerland held firm for more than 40 minutes. They looked set to force a penalty shootout before Julian Alvarez curled a superb strike into the top corner in the 112th minute. Lautaro Martinez added another goal late in extra time to seal Argentina's place in the last four.
'NO REASON TO AWARD YELLOW CARD'
Yakin did not hide his frustration after the final whistle. The Switzerland coach said the dismissal changed the course of the contest.
"There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card," Yakin said.
"It was a harmless situation. He should have let play continue. We were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. I don't understand it. The fact that they intervened unnecessarily is extremely hurtful. It's a rule that has nothing to do with football."
Yakin felt Switzerland had seized control after recovering from Alexis Mac Allister's early goal.
"We came back from a goal down against the world champions and we had the momentum," he said.
"We were dominating and controlling the match. Then we were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable. It destroyed our game today. We have to accept it, but it is painful to lose that way."
The Switzerland coach praised his players for pushing the world champions all the way despite playing more than 50 minutes with 10 men.
"My boys are the real heroes," Yakin said.
Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler also questioned the VAR intervention and called for an explanation from FIFA.
"I'm very proud of the team. You could tell that we gave 100%," Freuler said. "I don't understand how VAR can make such a decision, and FIFA has to explain it to us."
Embolo left the pitch in tears after the red card and was consoled by his teammates. Yakin backed his striker and blamed the officials for the outcome.
"He was fouled many times and he had a few very good moments in this game, but then he couldn't help the team any more," Yakin said.
"I don't blame him. Obviously, he is shattered because he could not help the team. It was a refereeing mistake."
The defeat ended Switzerland's first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 1954. It also denied them a place in the last four for the first time in their history.
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