FIFA rejects appeal to rescind France star Olise's controversial yellow card in WC clash against Paraguay
Boston, July 9
France head coach Didier Deschamps said ahead of the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco that their appeal to get Michael Olise's controversial yellow card against Paraguay in the round of 16 has been rejected by FIFA.
France, the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up, will be aiming to make it three successive semifinal appearances as they take on African side Morocco, who are aiming to make history by becoming the first African nation to reach two successive FIFA World Cup semis, after having reached the semis in the 2022 Qatar edition. During the clash against Morocco, scheduled for July 11 at 1:30 AM as per IST, Olise stands at risk of getting a one-match ban if he gets another yellow card, which will make him miss a potential semifinal clash.
Olise was booked during the round of 16 clash against Paraguay, shown a yellow card during a highly-intense match which saw tempers flaring on both sides and players resorting to physical violence .A heated altercation with Paraguay's Matias Galarza during the match caused the yellow card. While Galarza fell on the turf, alleging facial contact, the TV replays suggested that the Frenchman's initial contact was limited to a tug on his opponent's jersey, as per Goal.com. The French Football Federation (FFF) later launched an appeal to have the card rescinded.
Speaking ahead of the match as quoted by Sky Sports, Deschamps said, "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."
As per The Athletic, cited by Goal.com, the FFF approached FIFA to correct what it sees as a clear officiating error. This appeal came at a time when there was already a controversy about a red card going on in the tournament, with FIFA handing a one-match ban to the US striker Folarin Balogun after being shown a red card during his side's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, but interventions from US president Donald Trump and a legal team of US Soccer saw the red card being rescinded, with FIFA citing cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code to allow him to face Belgium in the last 16.
The move attracted criticism from the Belgian Football Association, fans and experts worldwide.
The Frenchman has been instrumental to his side's success in the tournament so far. Olise's five assists are the most by a player in a single FIFA World Cup since 1994 and one shy of levelling the record set by Brazil icon Pele with six assists in the 1970 edition. The Bayern star has already got two 'Player of the Match' awards during the group stage win against Senegal and a 3-0 win over Sweden in the round of 32, providing two assists in the latter.
His performance makes him a standout contender for the Golden Ball, with past legends, including French icon Thierry Henry, lauding his performance.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Five assists in a World Cup is extraordinary! Olise has been playing like a magician on the field. It would be a shame if he misses a potential semifinal due to a soft yellow card. Hope common sense prevails and he stays cautious against Morocco. 🇫🇷
Morocco reaching semis would be historic for African football! But France is a powerhouse. This Olise yellow card drama adds spice to the match. I'm rooting for an exciting, fair contest. 🏆
FIFA needs to fix its disciplinary process. The Balogun case showed that political pressure works, while a legitimate technical appeal by FFF gets rejected. This double standard is not good for the sport's credibility. Olise's yellow was harsh; TV replays clearly showed minimal contact.
As an Indian football fan, I'm loving this World Cup! Olise has been phenomenal - those assists are world-class. But if he gets another yellow, it's on him to control his temper. Players need to be smarter in high-pressure games. 😊
The FFF should have sent a stronger case. In Indian cricket, we've seen BCCI get decisions overturned with proper video evidence. FIFA's refusal shows they don't want to set a precedent for rescinding yellows mid-tournament. Still, it's harsh on Olise - he's been the tournament's best player.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.