SportFootballWorld Cup 2026Switzerland were reduced to 10 men after the new mistaken identity VAR rule was implemented03:44, 12 Jul 2026Updated 03:57, 12 Jul 2026Switzerland star Breel Embolo was sent off after VAR utilised the mistaken identity rule. It was a landmark decision during a crunch time in the World Cup quarter-final when Leandro Paredes saw his yellow card removed and Embolo shown a second yellow card.‌The 29-year-old went to ground looking for a foul, initiating contact with the Argentinian midfielder, who was initially booked. However, the Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro was instructed to go to the monitor and advised to reverse his decision.‌The Rennes forward has been walking a disciplinary tightrope for much of the game after his reckless challenge on Paredes on the stroke of half-time. His match, and potentially his tournament, came to a heartbreaking end as he tried to con the Portuguese official into booking the Boca Juniors midfielder only to see the decision reversed against him.‌Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!Embolo had to be pulled away from the referee after his decision and was inconsolable as he exited the pitch. 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 was the latest implementation of the new rules after IFAB introduced new regulations ahead of this summers' World Cup. The ruling has already been used in the tournament when USA's Tim Ream saw his yellow card rescinded for a challenge on Miguel Almiron, who was then cautioned for diving.‌FIFA chief officiating officer Pierluigi Collina championed the introduction of mistaken identity which means that if a player is booked or sent off but the foul was actually committed by the opposition team, the decision can be changed.As Embolo had been found to have committed simulation, he was shown a customary yellow card which led to his dismissal having already been booked earlier in the showdown.‌The man disadvantage came at a crucial time for the European side after wrestling their way back into the game. They fell behind in the first half when Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister outjumped Manuel Akanji to open the scoring inside 10 minutes.Switzerland began having joy in the second-half, particularly in wide areas and it is where Nottingham Forest's Dan Ndoye found the back of the net.His neat one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez set him through down the left powering past Emiliano Martinez from a tight-angle. It offered the Swiss a chance to move into the ascendancy but five minutes after restoring parity, Embolo was shown a red card.‌The winner of the quarter-final would meet England in the semi-final, following their 2-1 win over Norway after extra-time.As a result of Embolo's red card, the Swiss star forward would miss the last-four showdown with the Three Lions, should they stun the defending champions.Article continues belowChoose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌World Cup 2026FIFA World Cup