Switzerland international Breel Embolo was in tears after his controversial red card during their World Cup showdown with Argentina. The 29-year-old was dismissed for a second yellow after VAR deployed the mistaken identity rule.

Embolo was given his marching orders after he went down appealing for a free-kick, making contact with the Argentinian midfielder, who was initially cautioned. However, Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro was directed to consult the pitchside monitor and advised to overturn his original call due to the new FIFA ruling regarding mistaken identity. The Rennes attacker had been treading on thin ice for much of the encounter following his careless challenge on Paredes just before the interval. His match, and potentially his tournament, ended in devastating fashion as he attempted to deceive the Portuguese official into cautioning the Boca Juniors midfielder, only for the verdict to be reversed against him.

Embolo had to be restrained from approaching the referee following his ruling and was distraught as he left the field of play. Announcing to the stadium, he said: “After review, there is no foul for number five, number seven, there is clear simulation, final decision, yellow card number seven.”

It marked the latest application of the new regulations after IFAB introduced fresh protocols ahead of this summer’s World Cup. The provision had already been invoked in the competition when USA’s Tim Ream saw his yellow card overturned for a challenge on Miguel Almiron, who was subsequently booked for simulation.

FIFA’s chief officiating officer Pierluigi Collina backed the introduction of the mistaken identity rule, which allows decisions to be reversed if a player is booked or sent off for a foul that was actually committed by the opposing side. Having been found guilty of simulation, Embolo was duly shown a yellow card, which resulted in his dismissal after he had already received a booking earlier in the match.

The numerical disadvantage arrived at a pivotal moment for the European outfit, who had battled their way back into contention. They had fallen behind in the first half when Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister outjumped Manuel Akanji to break the deadlock inside 10 minutes. Switzerland began to find their rhythm in the second half, particularly through wide channels, and it was from one such position that Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye found the net.

A slick one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez sent him clear down the left, and he drove the ball past Emiliano Martinez from a tight angle. It gave the Swiss the opportunity to seize control, but just five minutes after drawing level, Embolo was shown his marching orders.

The victors of the quarter-final would face England in the semi-finals, following the Three Lions’ 2-1 extra-time triumph over Norway. As a consequence of Embolo’s red card, the Swiss forward would be ruled out of a potential last-four clash with England, should they overcome the defending champions.