Swiss rage over Embolo dismissal as Argentina advance to World Cup semis

KANSAS CITY, Montana (AP): Switzerland’s World Cup run ended in anger on Saturday night after forward Breel Embolo was dismissed in the second half of the quarter-final against Argentina, a video-assisted call that will intensify claims the holders have enjoyed favourable treatment from officials.

Dan Ndoye had drawn Switzerland level at 1-1 in the 67th minute when Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes was cautioned for a challenge on Embolo. Replays, however, indicated the Swiss striker was already going to ground before Paredes made contact. Under the tournament’s “mistaken identity” procedure, the yellow was instead issued to Embolo. Because he had already been booked earlier, that second caution produced a red card and left Switzerland with 10 players for the remainder of the contest.

The Swiss still forced extra time and appeared intent on dragging the tie to penalties. Julián Alvarez then struck from distance in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez added a further goal shortly afterwards as Argentina sealed a 3-1 win.

“We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable,” Swiss coach Murat Yakin said. “It’s very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don’t think we deserve that today, and, in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes. They put all their heart and their passion into their performance.”

Yakin also targeted Portuguese referee João Pinheiro. “The referee made the wrong decision,” he said. “It was, in my opinion, a harmless foul, if it even was a foul. I know they will protect their referee but this rule destroyed our game today, and it’s very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni conceded that “luck was on our side because one of their players was sent off”.

It was the second occasion at this World Cup that a yellow card has been reversed via the “mistaken identity” protocol, a little-known provision that lets the video assistant referee step in when the wrong player receives a caution or dismissal.

Earlier in the week, the Egyptian Football Association said it “cannot remain silent” over what it regarded as one-sided refereeing in Egypt’s 3-2 round-of-16 defeat to Argentina. Coach Hossam Hassan and several of his players had attacked the officiating after the champions scored three goals without reply to complete one of the tournament’s most dramatic recoveries.

“Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials,” FIFA’s chief of refereeing Pierluigi Collina said in response on Wednesday. “When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right.”