​FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — France coach Didier Deschamps said that FIFA denied the appeal of star Michael Olise’s controversial World Cup yellow card from the Round of 16 victory over Paraguay on Wednesday. “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,” Deschamps stated.
The ruling means that if Olise is booked again during France’s quarterfinal against Morocco on Thursday, he would be suspended for any potential semifinal match. France’s federation had appealed the caution that Olise received in the 97th minute of the 1-0 win over Paraguay after an altercation with Matías Galarza. In that incident, Galarza hit the ground amid a tangle between the two players, though video replays primarily showed Olise grabbing the Paraguayan’s jersey before Galarza toppled to the grass.
The appeal followed President Donald Trump’s recent phone call to FIFA head Gianni Infantino, urging that U.S. striker Folarin Balogun not be suspended for Monday’s matchup with Belgium due to a red card in a prior game. FIFA subsequently lifted Balogun’s suspension and allowed him to play. Nevertheless, the U.S. side was still eliminated from the World Cup by Belgium, suffering a 4-1 defeat with Balogun on the field.
Olise’s appeal status was among the first questions Deschamps faced as France prepared for its fourth consecutive World Cup quarterfinal appearance. A victory would keep France on course to become only the third nation to reach the semifinals in three straight tournaments, joining Germany (four appearances from 2002 to 2014 and three from 1982 to 1990) and Brazil (three from 1994 to 2002).
Deschamps has guided France to the brink of another deep run, seeking a return to the semifinals for a team that has become a consistent force in recent World Cups. The manager’s squad has reached the knockout stage in four straight editions, underscoring France’s sustained success on the global stage. As the quarterfinal looms, attention focuses not only on the tactical approach to Morocco but also on whether additional disciplinary decisions could shape the path toward the coveted semifinal berth.
For France, the potential impact of Olise’s card adds a layer of intensity to a high-stakes clash. If his discipline tally reaches another booking, a semifinal absence could tilt the balance in a game already loaded with strategic complexity and national expectations. The broader context of refereeing decisions and appeals in this tournament has kept fans and analysts scrutinizing every officiating call, magnifying the importance of each yellow card in a knockout setting.
As the World Cup progresses, Deschamps’ side aims to leverage its experience and depth to navigate the quarterfinal without being hampered by suspensions. The federation and fans will be watching closely as Olise’s fate is sealed by FIFA’s ruling, knowing that the outcome could influence France’s chances of extending their remarkable run in the tournament.