Argentina fans erupted in celebration while Switzerland players raged at the referee as Breel Embolo was sent off after a VAR check in their World Cup quarterfinal.

Switzerland had equalized just five minutes earlier when Embolo was given a freekick for a foul by Leandro Paredes. But the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor to check a case of “mistaken identity” after footage showed Embolo had dived to win the freekick.

After reviewing the incident, amid confusion in the stands from those watching on, referee João Pinheiro announced there was no foul by Paredes and Embolo would be shown a second yellow card. As it dawned on those watching that Switzerland was being reduced to 10-men, the enormous Argentina contingent erupted in the stands while Swiss players were left remonstrating with the officials.

Embolo was left inconsolable as he headed down the tunnel having left his side up against it. Shortly afterwards, the second half hydration break gave both teams a chance to regroup..

It appeared Switzerland had just got back into the game after a spell of sustained pressure when Dan Ndoye slid the ball past Emiliano Martinez to equalize. Argentina had led since the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed in a Lionel Messi penalty.

But the VAR intervention put Argentina firmly back on the front foot, against the backdrop of suggestions the tournament is ‘rigged’ in their favor after outrage in their last game against Egypt. One of Egypt’s players claimed the World Cup was “fixed” in favor of the defending champions after they had a goal disallowed in their 3-2 loss and felt numerous decisions went against them.

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan asked: ”Why isn’t there any fairness in sport? In football? I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording. We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. A penalty was ruled out and a second (incident) that should have been checked for a penalty for us was not even checked by the VAR. A second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed.”

Hassan then directed his attention toward Argentina and the officials, claiming that there may have been a push from elsewhere. “There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has brought about this outcome,” he added.

“Life is unfair. The world is unfair. OK, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports? I’m not convinced by this outcome and by the way things unfolded in this match.

“The referee is unfair, God is sufficient for me and the best disposer of affairs. He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation. The cup is directed towards Argentina.”