Swiss national team player Manuel Akanji clarified that the referee was "biased" in favor of Argentina during the match between the two teams in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
Manuel Akanji
Club: Inter
The Swiss national team bid farewell to the World Cup at the hands of the defending champions after losing 3-1 in a match that saw the expulsion of the team's striker Breel Embolo in the 72nd minute. (See details)
Akanji said in statements reported by "The Athletic" network: "It is unfortunate that we were eliminated in that way while you know that you are capable of winning, even with the referee against you, every small foul was counted against us".
He added, "I am not the type to complain about the referee, but I have never played a match with this degree of bias, where every small foul was counted. None of their simulations were counted, then Embolo received a second yellow card".
He concluded, "We cannot change what happened now".
The referee counted 18 fouls in favor of Argentina compared to 14 in favor of Switzerland, sent off Embolo for receiving two cautions, and showed 3 yellow cards to Argentina.
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The Argentine national team reached the semi-finals for the second consecutive time, which happens for the first time since 1986 and 1990 when they won the first title and lost the second at that time.
The Argentine national team has not lost in the last 13 matches in the World Cup with 11 wins and two draws.
Meanwhile, the match witnessed Switzerland falling behind in the score for the first time during the 2026 edition.
The Argentine national team will meet England next Wednesday in the golden square at Atalanta Stadium at ten in the evening.
