FIFA has rejected an appeal by the French Football Federation to overturn a yellow card issued to Michael Olise during France's 1-0 round-of-16 victory over Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup, leaving the midfielder at risk of missing a potential semi-final.
Head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed at a press conference in the Boston area that FIFA notified the team the caution stands. Olise was booked by Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev in the seventh minute of stoppage time following an altercation with Paraguay's Matías Galarza. The sanction remains in effect despite the federation's contention it was unwarranted. Should Olise receive another caution in Thursday's quarter-final against Morocco, he would be suspended for the semi-final. FIFA has yet to rule on separate French appeals concerning Manu Koné and Bradley Barcola.
The decision contrasts with FIFA's handling of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, whose one-match ban was suspended for a year following intervention by President Donald Trump.