FIFA has rejected an appeal from the French Football Federation (FFF) to rescind the yellow card shown to France star Michael Olise during the round of 16 clash against Paraguay, head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed on Tuesday.
Deschamps Confirms FIFA Decision
Speaking ahead of France's World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco, Deschamps told Sky Sports: "There was no change when it comes to Olise's yellow card. We received FIFA's decision this morning that the yellow card was maintained."
The Bayern Munich star was booked during a heated round of 16 match against Paraguay, which saw tempers flare and players resort to physical violence. The incident involved a confrontation with Paraguay's Matias Galarza, who fell to the turf alleging facial contact. However, TV replays suggested that Olise's initial contact was limited to a tug on his opponent's jersey, according to Goal.com.
Risk of Suspension
As a result of the yellow card being upheld, Olise now faces the risk of a one-match ban if he receives another yellow card in the quarterfinal against Morocco, scheduled for July 11 at 1:30 AM IST. Such a suspension would cause him to miss a potential semifinal clash.
France, the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up, aim to reach their third successive World Cup semifinal. They face Morocco, who are seeking to become the first African nation to reach two consecutive World Cup semifinals after their historic run in the 2022 Qatar edition.
Context of Controversy
The FFF approached FIFA to correct what it saw as a clear officiating error, as reported by The Athletic and cited by Goal.com. This appeal came amid broader controversy regarding disciplinary decisions in the tournament. Earlier, FIFA handed a one-match ban to US striker Folarin Balogun after a red card in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, interventions from US President Donald Trump and a legal team from US Soccer led to the red card being rescinded under Article 27 of FIFA's disciplinary code, allowing Balogun to face Belgium in the last 16. That decision drew criticism from the Belgian Football Association, fans, and experts worldwide.
Olise's Impact on the Tournament
Despite the controversy, Olise has been instrumental to France's success. His five assists in the tournament are the most by any player in a single World Cup since 1994, and he is just one assist shy of equaling the record set by Brazil legend Pele, who provided six assists in the 1970 edition. Olise has already won two Player of the Match awards: one during the group stage win against Senegal and another in the 3-0 victory over Sweden in the round of 32, where he provided two assists.
His performances have made him a standout contender for the Golden Ball award, with former French star Thierry Henry among those praising his contributions.
