Separating Fact from FIFA Conspiracies

For those convinced that FIFA is orchestrating a path for Lionel Messi and Argentina to secure the World Cup title, the recent red card issued to Switzerland’s Breel Embolo has served as fresh ammunition. However, a closer look at the incident suggests that the decision was not a product of corruption, but rather a standard application of the rules.


The Incident in Detail

The play in question occurred during the 72nd minute. Embolo, already carrying a yellow card, reacted to a challenge from Argentina’s Leandro Paredes by theatrically flopping and subsequently kicking out at his opponent. Given the high stakes of a World Cup knockout match—where Switzerland was vying for its first-ever semifinal appearance—this behavior was objectively reckless.

Following the match, Swiss coach Murat Yakin expressed his frustration, noting:

«Obviously he is shattered. He couldn’t help the team today and it hurts us and it hurts him that he was sent off. Just the way it happened, it was a referee mistake and we were punished for the referee’s mistake.»


The Role of VAR and Officiating

While the quality of officiating throughout the tournament has been a point of contention, critics often overlook the logistical reality of how matches are managed. Refereeing crews and VAR officials are assigned only days before matches, making the level of coordination required for a systematic conspiracy virtually impossible.

In this specific instance, VAR actually functioned exactly as intended. The process unfolded as follows:

  • Initial call: Paredes was issued a yellow card for a tackle on Embolo.
  • VAR intervention: Official Guillermo Pacheco reviewed the footage and alerted referee João Pinheiro.
  • Correction: Replays clearly showed Embolo embellishing the contact and initiating aggression, leading to a reversed decision.
  • Outcome: Embolo received a yellow card for simulation, which resulted in a red due to his prior booking.

Conclusion

While stars and high-profile teams often benefit from the doubt in football, the idea that a grand conspiracy is at play ignores the reality of the game. Bad calls are an unfortunate part of sports, but sometimes the officials simply get it right. In the case of Embolo’s exit, the officiating crew applied the rules correctly, regardless of the narrative surrounding Argentina’s tournament run.