Arabic version: سويسرا تنتقد تقنية حكم الفيديو المساعد بعد طرد إمبولو
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin criticised a VAR rule after his side conceded twice in extra time and lost 3-1 to Argentina in their World Cup quarterfinal.
According to ABC News, Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation in the 72nd minute, five minutes after Dan Ndoye had cancelled out Alexis Mac Allister’s early opener and with the score level at 1-1.
Portuguese referee João Pinheiro had initially booked Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes before a lengthy VAR review established that Embolo had not been fouled. Yakin said “There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card. It was a harmless situation. He should have let play continue.” He described the rule behind the sending-off as “unacceptable”, adding: “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.”
Embolo collapsed in tears after the red card and was consoled by his teammates before leaving the pitch. Yakin said the forward was devastated: “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. I don’t blame him. Obviously, he is shattered because he could not help the team. It was a refereeing mistake.” He added: “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. The referee made the wrong decision.”
Midfielder Remo Freuler also questioned the VAR intervention and called on FIFA to explain the decision. “I’m very proud of the team. You could tell that we gave 100 per cent,” Freuler said. “I don’t understand how VAR can make such a decision, and FIFA has to explain it to us.”
Switzerland held out until the 112th minute, when Julián Álvarez whipped a long-range shot into the top corner, before Lautaro Martínez added Argentina’s third nine minutes later to complete the 3-1 victory. The defeat ended Switzerland’s first World Cup quarterfinal appearance since 1954 and left it one victory short of reaching the last four for the first time.
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