Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev shows a yellow card to France’s forward #11 Michael Olise through the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Paraguay and France on the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
FOXBOROUGH–France coach Didier Deschamps revealed Wednesday that an appeal against a yellow card shown to Michael Olise within the World Cup last-16 win over Paraguay had been rejected by FIFA.
Olise, who has been considered one of the tournament’s standout stars, was booked in the ultimate minutes of the bad-tempered clash in Philadelphia after an altercation with Matias Galarza.
“The yellow card has not modified. We were notified by FIFA this morning, it has been maintained,” Deschamps told reporters in Foxborough, on the eve of France’s quarter-final showdown with Morocco on the Gillette Stadium.
Replays showed there was little contact between the 2 players. Bayern Munich star Olise put his finger in front of his mouth and the Paraguayan player dropped to the bottom, claiming he had been hit within the face.
The choice by world football’s governing body to uphold the booking means Olise is now walking a tightrope — if he’s cautioned again against Morocco, he shall be suspended for a possible semi-final against Spain or Belgium.
Bradley Barcola and Manu Kone are liable to a ban too after they were also booked against Paraguay.
Deschamps said midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni was recovering well from a thigh injury that ruled him out of the sport against Paraguay.
“Aurelien is doing higher. I can’t say greater than that. He’ll perhaps participate in training today but I might want to see. The others are all available,” he said of the Real Madrid player.
The France head coach refused to show the appointment of an Argentine referee for the sport into an argument.
Facundo Tello will take charge of Thursday’s last-eight tie. A rivalry between France and Argentina grew out of their 2022 World Cup final meeting, which the latter won on penalties.
French official Francois Letexier was in charge for Argentina’s 3-2 win over Egypt within the last 16 on Tuesday. The Egyptian Football Association said it had filed a grievance following some controversial decisions in that game.
“There may be nothing I can do about refereeing appointments. I just attempt to believe within the officials,” Deschamps said.
“I hope that Mr Tello and his assistants shall be just pretty much as good as Mr Letexier and his assistants.
“There are all the time decisions that may result in debate depending on which side you might be on, but our opponents are Morocco. I can’t consider the referee to be an opponent.”
Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018, will step down at the tip of the tournament after 14 years in charge.
Which means Thursday’s clash — a repeat of the 2022 semi-final, which France won 2-0 — shall be his last if Les Bleus lose.
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“I’m not interested by that in any respect. In my head, with my staff, the target is simply to do all the things we are able to in order that things go well. I’m focused on this Morocco team and on things going well for us,” he insisted.