It was Paredes who received a yellow first. But upon a VAR check, the referee found that Embolo simulated the fall. Breel Embolo was in tears as he walked off the pitch moments after Switzerland’s 67th-minute equalizer against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal.Switzerland's Breel Embolo (7) reacts in a challenge from Argentina's Leandro Paredes (5) during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Argentina and Switzerland in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)What happened?The Swiss No. 7 received a red card following a controversial VAR decision. The referee initially showed a yellow card to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes for a challenge on Embolo. However, upon VAR review, officials determined Embolo had simulated the fall. Paredes' yellow was rescinded, and Embolo was shown a second yellow and sent off.Furious fans cry riggedClose-up videos of the gameplay took social media by storm. Many accused the referee and FIFA of bias toward defending champions Argentina, while others criticized Embolo's simulation as a “horrific decision” in such a crucial moment.A user on X shared the slowed-down video of the collision between Embolo and Paredes and wrote, “Hm this definitely is not a foul by Embolo fifa is rigged isnt it?”After seeing the footage, the internet was divided, with some users criticizing Embolo's "fake fall." A user wrote, "I mean I'm sorry. Take all your "rigged in favor of Argentina stuff" that is blatant simulation by Embolo. It's horrible to happen in such a huge moment but it's also a horrific decision on his part to go down in that way. If he isn't on a yellow we all call for a booking."Shirin Gupta is a content producer with the Hindustan Times. She covers everything between politics, entertainment and sports at the US desk. Shirin got interested in political journalism during her time as a web editor at her college newspaper NCC News in Syracuse when she first started seeing the effects of national politics in life of her fellow colleagues.