Argentina advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday night.
The match was overshadowed by a controversial red card issued to Swiss forward Breel Embolo in the second half.
The turning point came in the 67th minute, shortly after Switzerland's Dan Ndoye had equalized to make it 1-1.
Referee João Pinheiro initially showed Argentina's Leandro Paredes a yellow card for a tackle on Embolo, but a video assistant referee review overturned the decision.
Replays suggested Embolo began falling before contact, leading officials to penalize him under the tournament's mistaken identity protocol.
Having already received a yellow card earlier, Embolo was sent off, leaving Switzerland to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Switzerland held on to force extra time, but Argentina's Julián Alvarez scored in the 112th minute.
Lautaro Martínez added another goal shortly after to seal the 3-1 win for the reigning champions.
Swiss Outrage Over Decision
The red card drew sharp criticism from the Swiss camp. Coach Murat Yakin expressed deep frustration during the post-match press conference.
"We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable," Yakin said. "It's very painful that we were eliminated that way.
I don't think we deserve that today, and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes."
Yakin questioned the referee's decision, calling it a "harmless foul" and saying the rule "destroyed our game today."
He added that he was unaware of the specific protocol used by VAR officials before the incident.
Swiss captain Granit Xhaka acknowledged the red card changed the game.
"This decision was difficult to accept now after the game because the dressing room was very quiet, disappointed," he said.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted the numerical advantage played a role.
"Because of a red card, one of their players was sent off, luck was on our side," he said.
This was the second instance of the mistaken identity protocol being used to overturn a yellow card during the World Cup.
The regulation allows VAR to intervene when an incorrect player is penalized.
The controversy follows similar complaints from the Egyptian Football Association after their Round of 16 loss to Argentina.
FIFA's chief of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, defended the officials, saying, "Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials."
