Switzerland were left furious after their World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina, having been reduced to 10 men when Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card
Switzerland were on the wrong side of a new law(Image: Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Angry Switzerland manager Murat Yakin has branded the new law which led to Breel Embolo’s sending off against Argentina as ‘unacceptable’. Swiss forward Embolo was shown two yellow cards, the second of came about in controversial circumstances.
Referee Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro initially booked Argentina’s Leandro Paredes for a foul on Embolo, only for replays to show that there was no contact and that the Rennes star had dived. The referee was then instructed by VAR to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor and made use of a law which came into force ahead of the World Cup.
With Embolo already on a yellow card, Pinheiro gave him a second booking to reduce Swizterland to 10 men just five minutes after Dan Ndoye had cancelled out Alexis Mac Allister’s first-half goal. Yakin’s side held on to take the quarter-final to extra-time before goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez broke Swiss hearts.
Post-match, Yakin fumed: “There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card. It was a harmless situation. He should have let play continue. We were punished because of a rule that is unacceptable.
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“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. It destroyed our game today. We have to accept it, but it is painful to lose that way.”
Meanwhile, Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler described the decision as a ‘disaster’. “I don’t know what this referee is doing here,” Freuler added.
“I don’t know, I don’t understand why they call it for a situation like this, because there were many fouls, made also in the first half, maybe he has to also to call them for a yellow card. So I don’t understand. How can a VAR change a game with this situation?”
The flashpoint has prompted more accusations that Agrentina are being favoured by FIFA officials, having been on the right side of multiple key decisions in their dramatic last-16 victory over Egypt. “I wouldn’t say they (Argentina) are being favoured,” Yakin said.
Do you agree with the new law? Have your say in the comments section.
Murat Yakin can’t understand why the law was introduced(Image: JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)
“(But) football didn’t come out on top, we were punished by a referee mistake. I didn’t know this rule before; it’s a very harmless situation, a yellow card was awarded, VAR interfered.
“It was a very meaningful moment for us and it was decisive for the outcome of the match. The VAR and the ref… the fact that they introduced such a rule is just unnecessary. It’s extremely hurtful – we missed this opportunity, we’re not going to the semi-finals, but I think we deserved to be there.”
Instead, it’s Argentina who are in the last four. Lionel Messi and Co. will take on England in their semi-final clash on Wednesday in Atlanta at 8pm UK time.
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