Pandora’s box is officially open.
England’s Football Association is considering appealing defender Jarell Quansah’s red card against Mexico, sources told James Olley of ESPN.
Quansah was sent off after a VAR review in the second half of England’s thrilling 3-2 win over the tournament co-host at the Estadio Azteca. His red card carries an automatic one-match suspension, which would rule him out of the quarterfinal clash with Norway.
The appeal consideration comes after U.S. striker Folarin Balogun had his one-match red-card ban lifted going into the Americans’ last-16 affair against Belgium in a stunning move by FIFA that drew the ire of many in the sport.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and requested that Balogun’s red card be reviewed.
FIFA’s Balogun decision was the impetus for England to consider an appeal of the impending Quansah suspension, sources told Olley.
England boss Thomas Tuchel said after Sunday’s victory that the Balogun affair set a dangerous precedent.
“Where does this start and where does this end now? Can we overturn it (Quansah’s red card) or not overturn it? What’s going on?” he told reporters, including Olley, during a press conference.
“Where to draw the line is the question that I ask. I have no answer to that. Where does this end now? Do we appeal if a yellow card is not a yellow card? Do we think it is not a red card, or who thinks it?”
France, it seems, is having similar internal discussions.
The French Football Federation (FFF) submitted an appeal over star playmaker Michael Olise’s yellow card from Les Bleus’ last-16 win over Paraguay, sources told Adam Crafton of The Athletic.
Olise was booked after an altercation with Matias Galarza. Replays showed that Galarza clearly embellished the contact on the play, going down while holding his face despite the Bayern Munich star not actually touching his face.
The booking means that Olise, one of the tournament’s best players, would be suspended for a potential semifinal should he get another yellow card in France’s next match against Morocco.