REUTERS/Paul Childs
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Mexico v England - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - July 5, 2026 England's Jarell Quansah looks dejected after being sent off by referee Alireza Faghani after a VAR review
When FIFA made the shocking decision to rescind U.S. Men’s National Team striker Folarin Balogun’s red card at the World Cup, many were concerned it would open up a huge can of worms.
After all, FIFA didn’t have an official appeals process for red cards, and the card was only rescinded after U.S. President Donald Trump reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Ultimately, the decision had no bearing on the United States’ brutal 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. However, it led England to launch a similar appeal of the red card given to Jarell Quansah in its 3-2 victory over Mexico in the Round of 16.
Quansah’s red card came in the 53rd minute when he made a studs-up sliding tackle into Mexican fullback Jesus Gallardo.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: RED CARD FOR QUANSAH AFTER A TERRIBLE FOUL ON JESUS GALLARDO! pic.twitter.com/jtER2K2ZGZ
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) July 6, 2026
England argued, like the U.S., that proper VAR protocol was ignored in determining that Quansah should be shown a red card. But FIFA didn’t see it that way.
FIFA Shuts Down England’s Appeal Of Jarell Quansah Red Card
On Thursday afternoon, two days ahead of England’s World Cup quarterfinal against Norway, The Athletic reported that FIFA had both denied England the right to appeal and confirmed that Quansah would miss both the quarterfinal and a potential semifinal against Argentina or Switzerland.
“The suspension will be served in the upcoming match(es) of the representative team of England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and in accordance with art. 69 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” a FIFA statement said.
Quansah had started the last two games for England after a hamstring injury to Chelsea’s Reece James, who is also in doubt for the quarterfinal.
Similarly, FIFA denied France an appeal of winger Michael Olise’s yellow card in its Round of 16 matchup with Paraguay. If Olise receives another yellow card against Morocco in the quarterfinals, he will be suspended for a potential semifinal against Spain or Belgium.
Safe to say the Balogun decision did not, in fact, open up a can of worms.