FIFA suspends England star for two World Cup games after USA-Donald Trump scandal

England star Jarell Quansah has been suspended for two World Cup games after his challenge on Mexico star Jesus Gallardo in the Round of 16 earned him a red card as a result of the play

Jarell Quansah has been suspended for two World Cup matches after being sent off with a red card in England’s 3-2 Round of 16 win over Mexico.

In that match, Quansah, who started in place of Djed Spence for Thomas Tuchel’s squad, charged for the ball and slid with his studs up. And while the England star was able to get to the ball first, Mexico star Jesus Gallardo was directly in the way, leading Quansah to make contact with Gallardo’s left shin.

The Mexican star immediately collapsed to the ground in pain as his teammates on the bench rose in anger with the reckless challenge. Quansah’s teammates stood up for him, with the two sides going at one another, forcing referee Alireza Faghani to stop the match.

With the stoppage, Faghani went to review the play, and with Quansah’s leg brought up when he contacted the ball — ultimately leading to his studs hitting Gallardo’s leg — the England star was quickly assessed a red card. Now, the 23-year-old will miss England’s match against Norway and the semi-final match, if they advance.

FIFA’s ruling comes after England considered appealing Faghani’s original decision, following revelations that Donald Trump’s administration reached out to the governing body regarding FIFA’s decision to overturn United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) star Folarin Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Trump revealed that he personally contacted FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to “review” Balogun’s red card. “I saw the play… that [challenge by Balogun] wasn’t a foul, that wasn’t even an infraction, that was two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other,” Trump said before the USMNT’s 4-1 loss to Belgium.

“These were two great athletes that got tangled up and this referee, who is a little bit suspect, if you check his past, he made a call that nobody could believe. He [Balogun] didn’t do anything wrong and he’s our best player, or one of our best players… and he [the referee] gave him a red card.

“It’s very unfair, you can’t do that. So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I spoke to a man who’s highly respected [Infantino] and by the way, whose level of respect has gone up 10-fold.

“This game [against Belgium ] would have a big mark on it if we lost [without Balogun].

“No matter what happened, you have to let [teams] use their best players, and the game [against Belgium] is going to be amazing. And we’re going to have a full team, and Belgium is going to have a full team. And you know what? If [Belgium] beat us, then they can be really proud.”

“The other way [with Balogun banned] – if they beat us, we’ll say it was… I’d say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020, but I won’t get into that.”

In light of FIFA reversing Balogun’s red card, France also attempted to have Michael Olise’s yellow card rescinded before its quarterfinal clash against Morocco.

Should Olise have been given another yellow card, with the first occurring in France’s win over Paraguay, he would miss the World Cup favorite’s next match. That said, French manager Didier Deschamps confirmed that the French Football Federation’s appeal was denied.

“There was no change with Olise’s yellow card,” Deschamps told reporters Wednesday. “We received from FIFA a decision this morning that Olise’s yellow card remains.”