Swiss Media Criticize VAR in World Cup Quarter-Final Exit
Following Switzerland's quarter-final defeat to Argentina, European press outlets have sharply criticized the refereeing and the controversial use of VAR regarding Breel Embolo's red card.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 / Author: Sebas
Switzerland's elimination from the 2026 World Cup following a 3-1 extra-time loss to Argentina has sparked intense reaction in the Swiss media. The core of the frustration lies in the refereeing decisions, specifically the intervention of the VAR system during the second half.
With the score level, Swiss striker Breel Embolo was shown a second yellow card for simulation following a challenge with Leandro Paredes. While the referee initially awarded a foul to Switzerland and booked the Argentine midfielder, a VAR review led to the reversal of that decision and the dismissal of Embolo.
The expulsion of Embolo turned into a heavy burden for the Swiss team. Neue Zürcher Zeitung
The newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung highlighted that the VAR review only occurred because Paredes had been booked initially. They argued that without that initial yellow card, the incident would not have been reviewed. Other outlets, including SRF and RTS, labeled the exit as "cruel," praising the team's resilience until late goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez sealed Argentina's victory.
With this win, Argentina advances to the semi-finals to face England in a highly anticipated match.