Obvious simulation while on a yellow card leads to second booking and ejection

generalJul 12, 202658828

Switzerland forward Breel Embolo received a second yellow and was sent off after clearly simulating a foul while already on a booking during the Argentina match. Referees issued a yellow for simulation after a VAR review showed Embolo exaggerated contact, converting his existing caution into a second booking and an automatic red card. The decision reduced Switzerland to ten players for the remainder of the game and removed Embolo from the contest. Commenters pointed out that the act was especially costly because Embolo was already on a yellow and risked dismissal. Match statistics cited before the incident noted Argentina had an 83.9 percent pass completion in that build-up, underscoring the game context when the simulation occurred. The red card stands as an immediate disciplinary enforcement of simulation rules and leaves Switzerland to reorganize defensively for the closing stages.

Mark Copelovitch

@mcopelov.bsky.social

VAR is increasingly dumb & ruining far more games than it’s fixing. But you just can’t do this if you’re already on a yellow.

32412h ago

Josh Busby30

It was dumb but ref discretion should have allowed him to just rescind the yellow on the Argentine player and leave it at that.

Darin Self28

I've always seen a yellow for simulation only in critical moments -usually just in the box or close to it. A second yellow for that when its in the middle of the pitch is absurd.

David H Feldman15

Why is this crap such an integral part of the men's game, but not how the women play?

Snarky Panda13

play the game not the refs, he got caught, tough break but i think we're all tired of the soap opera acting

Mark Nance9

The handwringing over this just confirms how large a part of the game diving has become.

Ted Remington6

Agree. It’s harsh. On the other hand, punishing simulation is absolutely necessary for the integrity of the sport.

Quoting this

Prince Caspian26

The reason soccer isn't dominant in the United States is that if you played it in high school and routinely did this, your buddies would fucking roast you until you quit and took up trombone. Not a problem in Europe.

Ben Wright

@benwright.bsky.social

Maybe when you’re on a yellow already you shouldn’t flop? Just a thought.

7312h ago

Jerad Walker

@jeradwalker.bsky.social

Oh man what a TERRIBLE dive. The Swiss player gets his second yellow card and is ejected.

4512h ago

slacey AKA Intergalactic Sendentary13

i’m not one to say argentina doesn’t get some suspicious cards going their way, that was not one of them. such a clear simulation. sucks it was his second yellow but FAFO

Cool baby with a cig3

I like Embolo and I understand there are situations when you have to make the most of contact to help your team, but this was the right call. We need to get this out of the sport.

Quoting this

local blogger59

I know y'all hate VAR but yeah you gotta know better than blatantly diving while on a yellow

Paulie in the Act of Existing4

This is ALMOST as bad as Almiron’s swan dive

Ritz2

Honestly one of the worst dives I've ever seen @chelsisright.bsky.social

ECH2

OK, yeah...that was a dive VAR got this one right

Anchorage Man

@sethpartnow.bsky.social

Landon not wanting a player sent off for diving, how about don’t dive when you’re on a yellow?

3412h ago

John Reynolds3

So, did he basically get a yellow for flopping?

Moban1

it's just such a bad dive too, you're not drawing a PK or even a good free kick and it's before ANY contact

John Boyle

@johnpboyle.bsky.social

Yes, that's harsh for Embolo and Switzerland, but if folks want diving out of the game, the penalty for it needs to be harsh enough to discourage it. Also, maybe don't go egregiously flopping when you're already on a yellow?

2912h ago

Micah

@rincewind.run

yeah I think the ideal outcome here is just “no yellow no foul” but I believe the rules are you get the yellow instead for flopping and, again, you simply cannot risk that if you’re already on a yellow

2612h ago

Kelly Miller

@kellylmiller.bsky.social

But if you’re already sitting on a yellow it’s an incredibly stupid thing to do anywhere on the pitch.

2212h ago

Mike McGrew

@zavcurrent.bsky.social

To be fair that’s 1000% a simulation and should be a yellow. It’s boneheaded to do that when you’re on a yellow.

1412h ago

future canon

@futurecanon.bsky.social

I mean that is a moronic dive under the circumstances. Fuck Argentina but you can't do that when you're on a yellow

912h ago

Jibblescribbits

@jibblescribbits.bsky.social

I mean, don't dive on a yellow. Like, I don't like diving but I get the attempt at times but if you're on a yellow, like that's the point of a yellow card.

1012h ago

Tyler Britten

@tyler.britten.us

The risk you run when your dive draws a yellow and you’re on a yellow

1212h ago

Thomas Linner

@tmlinner.bsky.social

People says the “fix is in” for that are really missing what a terrible decision it was for Embolo to dive there while on a yellow card.

812h ago

tburgess42.bsky.social

@tburgess42.bsky.social

Counterpoint: if you are already on a yellow card you shouldn't dive like you've been shot without being touched.

1012h ago

Daniel Phimphisane

@dphimphisane.bsky.social

Doing a simulated dive knowing that you’re on a yellow is not only stupid, but also exactly what an A-League player would do. Get the chequebooks out A-Liga #ARGSUI #FIFAWorldCup

712h ago

AndrewNK

@andrewnk.bsky.social

Don't dive if you're on a yellow. That was 100% a dive in anticipation of contact that didn't end up happening. I'm rooting for Switzerland and I feel horrible for Embolo, but that was a text book yellow for simulation.

812h ago