Keith Hackett quizzes FIFA over Breel Embolo red card vs Argentina: 'Degree of unfairness'

Switzerland's Breel Embolo deserved to be sent off against Argentina, but FIFA have questions to answer about their own rules.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that FIFA have opened up a new rule to a "great deal of subjectivity and interpretation".

Already on a yellow card, Embolo bought a foul of Leandro Paredes, throwing himself to the floor in a clear act of simulation on Sunday, 12 July.

Following a VAR review, however, the yellow card was overturned, instead being shown to the Swiss striker, who was subsequently sent off for a second cautionable offence.

The reason was labelled as "mistaken identity" but that is clearly not the case, with the referee simply being conned by Embolo falling down.

Now, an entirely new debate has emerged around whether FIFA's new rule is fit for purpose, or if it needs rewriting to avoid any further confusion in the future.

'Why hide behind mistaken identity?'

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett, while happy with the end result, was not as positive about how the rule has been twisted at this World Cup.

"There's a degree of unfairness that now a referee can actually come in on a yellow card offence and hand it to the opponent," he said.

"I think that's a positive, but why hide behind mistaken identity? Why not be clear that where a yellow card has been issued to a player and it's seen to be incorrect, then it's it's withdrawn?

"We saw that very clear act of simulation. It was worthy of a yellow card without even going through all the antics.

"But I think that in the wording and how it's been interpreted, they've opened up this up to a great deal of subjectivity.

"They've opened this up to a great deal of interpretation. And therefore, I think that FIFA and IFAB need to clarify in greater detail what the boundaries are for this mid now mistaken identity"

Embolo not the only one to suffer a similar fate

Embolo is not the only player to find out the hard way that FIFA referees are cutting down on simulation, especially at the 2026 World Cup.

In USA's first game of the tournament, Tim Ream was cautioned in the 50th minute, only for the decision to be overturned following a VAR review.

In turn, Miguel Almiron, who was also sent off against Turkey for covering his mouth, was instead shown the yellow card for the former Newcastle United winger.

Despite the right decision being reached, many can't help but feel that the rules are being bent to benefit the referees, who have made mistakes on both occasions.