Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin launched strong criticism against the refereeing decisions after his team suffered a 3-1 defeat against Argentina after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.

Yakin believes that the sending-off of striker Breel Embolo was a major turning point in the match and affected Switzerland’s chances of reaching the semi-finals.

Breel Embolo Red Card Changes the Match

Switzerland played with ten players from the 72nd minute after Breel Embolo received a second yellow card following a VAR review.

The decision angered the Swiss coaching staff, with Yakin arguing that the dismissal changed the balance of the game against Argentina.

Murat Yakin: We Were Punished by a Refereeing Decision

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Yakin said:

"There was no justification for giving Embolo a yellow card. This rule should not exist in a World Cup quarter-final."

He added:

"It is difficult for me to understand how a mistake by Paredes can be corrected, while we are punished by weakening our team. I am not saying Argentina received special treatment, but football was not on our side."

Switzerland Coach Questions VAR Decision

Yakin continued:

"We were punished because of a refereeing decision, and I did not know about this rule before. It was a simple situation where the player received a yellow card, then VAR intervened, turning it into a decisive moment that directly affected the result."

He concluded:

"Applying this rule is completely unnecessary. What happened is very painful because we deserved to be in the semi-finals."

Yakin’s Previous Comments About Fair Refereeing

Yakin’s criticism came only days after he rejected doubts about refereeing fairness before facing Argentina.

At the time, he responded to complaints from the Egypt national team regarding refereeing decisions in the previous round, saying that matches are generally handled fairly and VAR allows decisions to be reviewed.

He stated:

"Generally, matches are managed fairly at the moment. With VAR, everything can be reviewed."

He also added:

"There is no need to decide everything with words after the match. When you have your chances, you must take them. Everything should be decided on the pitch."

Switzerland Eliminated by Argentina in World Cup 2026

Switzerland’s World Cup 2026 journey ended after losing 3-1 to Argentina, while the Argentine team continued its campaign toward the title amid discussions surrounding some refereeing decisions during the tournament.

Why did Murat Yakin criticize the refereeing?

He criticized Breel Embolo’s second yellow card and believed the decision changed the match.

What was the score between Argentina and Switzerland?

Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time.

Which Swiss player was sent off?

Breel Embolo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

Did Yakin accuse referees of helping Argentina?

No. He said he was not claiming Argentina received special treatment, but he criticized the refereeing decision.