Jarell Quansah is set to serve a suspension after he was sent off in England’s topsy-turvy victory over Mexico in the World Cup last 16.
Thomas Tuchel’s side reached the quarter-finals in dramatic fashion at the Estadio Azteca, with two goals from Jude Bellingham and a Harry Kane penalty enough to best the co-hosts amid a partisan atmosphere.
The Three Lions were forced to play the final half-hour with ten men, as former Liverpool defender Quansah was dismissed for a lunge on Jesus Gallardo, which VAR adjudged to have been violent conduct.
The Bayer Leverkusen man, fielded at right-back amid Tuchel’s injury crisis in that position, appeared to have won the ball against the Mexican left-back, but replays showed his studs catch the full-back’s leg with his follow-through.
As such, he was given his marching orders, and he is set to serve a one-match ban. That would see him miss the quarter-final clash against Norway in Miami, Florida, after Erling Haaland’s brace sent the Scandinavians through at the expense of Brazil.
There is some optimism for England, however, with some believing that an appeal could be lodged to try and rescind Quansah’s suspension, especially with ‘Article 27’ invoked by FIFA for Folarin Balogun’s dismissal against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The US striker was sent off for stepping on Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle, although the call was controversial, with United States boss Mauricio Pochettino labelling the decision “never a red card”, and president Donald Trump’s administration reportedly got in touch with FIFA in a bid to overturn the forward’s suspension.
As such, the governing body “suspended” Balogun’s ban, which means he is able to face Belgium in Seattle, Washington, as the US prepare for their last-16 tie in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Thomas Tuchel joked that Harry Kane could have a word with President Trump about waving off Quansah’s suspension, while UEFA issued a stunning statement condemning FIFA’s verdict.
