The International Football Association Board (IFAB) clarified its guidance to referees which confirmed Switzerland forward Breel Embolo should not have been sent off in the World Cupquarterfinals against Argentina.
Embolo’s second yellow card, after a video review for simulating being fouled, changed the momentum of the game in the 72nd minute soon after Switzerland tied the score at 1-1.
Argentina won 3-1 in extra time with help from the red-card decision that fueled complaints, including from previous opponent Egypt, referees were favoring Lionel Messi’s team with decisions.
Recognised by FIFA, the board published a clarification on the regulations for using video technology on Monday. It confirmed that the VAR protocol for “mistaken identity” cases could not be applied to this type of incident during the World Cup, even though it may be used in future competitions. An official statement from IFAB read: “However, the protocol may not be used in this way until that review is complete.” Embolo went down after a collision with Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, who received a yellow card. Video technology officials then told the referee that Paredes had not committed a foul. Embolo picked up a yellow card instead, his second, and was sent off.
IFAB further explained that the card “can only be reviewed to determine the identity of the player who committed the offence for which they were punished, and the offence itself cannot be reviewed or changed”. A review of the video technology protocol has been under way since March, and the board acknowledged that incidents like Embolo’s fall within it.
