Switzerland have exited the World Cup as victims of FIFA’s new rule. Beaten 3-1 by reigning world champions Argentina in a high-voltage quarterfinal, the Swiss crashed out of the tournament, but the bigger talking point than the result was Swiss forward Breel Embolo’s red card and FIFA’s new “mistaken identity” law. After the contentious decision, the Switzerland camp vented intense anger over the refereeing and VAR.
The two sides had fought evenly in Kansas. With the regulation 90 minutes ending 1-1, the match went to extra time, but Switzerland, reduced to 10 men in the 71st minute, could no longer hold off Argentina’s attack in the extra period. The Albiceleste eventually took a 3-1 win to book their semifinal place.
Swiss forward Breel Embolo had to leave the field in the 71st minute, but it was no ordinary red card. Embolo became the first player in history to be sent off under the new “mistaken identity” rule, a law, introduced at this World Cup at the request of FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina, that allows a decision to be corrected when the wrong player is punished. After the decision, the Swiss star broke down in tears on the pitch.
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin could not accept the referee’s decision in any way. Venting his anger after the match, he said: “This decision is really not understandable. I know they [FIFA] will protect the referees every time. But it is because of this rule that today’s match was finished.”
Yakin argued that Embolo’s foul was not dangerous at all and that there was no justification for a second yellow card. On Embolo’s state of mind, the coach said: “He is completely shattered. He could not help the team today. Like him, we are all hurt. This is entirely the referee’s wrong decision.”
Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler vented the same anger. Questioning the match’s refereeing and the role of VAR, he said: “I don’t know what the referee was doing. There were many more fouls like this in the first half. That standard was not followed in those cases. Otherwise everyone would have to be shown a yellow card.”
Criticizing what he called VAR’s excessive intervention, he added: “I don’t understand how VAR can turn a match around in a situation like this. On-field referees should be allowed to do their own job properly.”
How a new rule and a referee’s contentious decision can shatter a team’s World Cup dream, this match in Kansas stood as a harsh example of exactly that.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report