Another World Cup appeal.
In the midst of the Folarin Balogun chaos, the French Football Federation has appealed to FIFA to take away Michael Olise’s yellow card during France’s win over Paraguay in the round of 16, according to The Athletic.
Olise, one of the stars of the 2026 World Cup with five assists in five games, was booked after an altercation with Matias Galarza.
The Paraguayan midfielder went to ground holding his face, but replays showed Olise did not make contact with Galarza above the jersey.
Should the winger picked up another yellow card against Morocco, the booking means he would be suspended for a potential semifinal match.
The France-Paraguay game was charged with emotion as the South American side attempted another upset on a European giant. Rayan Cherki described the match as “war.”
“The refereeing, I have nothing to say about this. You saw how it went. How many fouls? 30, 40? And no yellow cards for them? Who cares? We’re in the quarterfinals,” Cherki said.
France’s appeal is part of the fallout from FIFA suspending the red card Balogun picked up, its allowing him to play for the U.S against Belgium on Monday.
Before President Donald Trump’s call to FIFA about the controversial red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina, it was believed there was no appeal process during the World Cup.
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“We want consistency,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said. …”Does France get the yellow card back for Olise which was not a yellow card. Where does this start and where does this end? Do we appeal Jarell Quansah red? Should Harry Kane ask President Trump?”
The appeal also comes after UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, which helps govern France’s soccer, called the Balogun ruling “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
A United Kingdom labour lawmaker has also asked for an appeal on the aforementioned Quansah red card for fellow UEFA side England.
