After Balogun controversy, France appeals Olise’s yellow card against Paraguay – reports

After American forward Folarin Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina was overturned, the French Football Federation will appeal against Michael Olise’s yellow card against Paraguary.

Olise received the booking during the Round of 16 match against the Paraguayans when the French forward got his name in referee Ilgiz Tantashev’s book after a skirmish with Matias Galarza. However, replays suggested that Olise was apparently holding the opponent’s shirt.

France next face Morocco in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and a yellow card in that match could mean Olise misses out on the semi-finals if the French advance.

According to The Athleticsthe French Federation has turned to FIFA in this matter.

Criticism has come from various sources – former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, the Belgian federation, UEFA, former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter – about the football governing body’s decision to overturn Balogun’s red card.

US President Donald Trump also admitted on Monday that he had asked FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s red card.

“All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a violation,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Published on July 6, 2026