World Cup 2026: France fail to get Michael Olise yellow card overturned as Ismael Saibari sidelined for Morocco
France failed in their attempt to overturn Michael Olise’s yellow card against Paraguay.
Bayern Munich’s winger received a yellow card after a clash with Matias Galarza in extra time in France’s 1-0 last 16 win in Philadelphia.
During the argument, Galarza fell to the ground when Olise grabbed his shirt.
Olise, who has five assists in the 2026 World Cup, will miss his country’s semi-final against Spain or Belgium if France manage to beat Morocco in the quarter-final on Thursday (21:00 GMT) and receive another yellow card.
“The yellow card has not changed. We were informed by Fifa this morning, the card has been preserved,” France coach Didier Deschamps said before the match at Boston Stadium on Wednesday.
Olise’s yellow card suspensions came despite FIFA suspending US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card in the tournament, which meant he could enter the last 16 tie with Belgium.
Bradley Barcola and Manu Kone also received yellow cards for France against Paraguay, which did not receive a yellow card from referee Ilgiz Tantashev in the match.
While Paraguayan Gustavo Velazquez tried to force the penalty spot, Kylian Mbappe struck for the winner, French defender Dayot Upamecano received an elbow to the ribs from Gabriel Avalos and Andres Cubas made a poor tackle past Les Bleus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart said the South American team “went too far” with some of their antics in the match, while BBC Sport pundit Thomas Hitzlsperger said it was “probably the worst referee performance I’ve seen in this tournament”.
Following the match, Mbappe condemned a Paraguayan senator as “despicable” and unworthy of his position after he made a series of racist remarks mocking his origins and education.
