If Olise is booked again against Morocco, he will be suspended for the semi-finals against Spain or Belgium.
Published July 8, 2026
France coach Didier Deschamps has revealed that FIFA has rejected his appeal against Michael Oliseh’s yellow card in the World Cup round-of-16 match against Paraguay.
“The yellow card has not changed. We were notified by FIFA this morning. It has been upheld,” Deschamps told reporters in Foxborough on Wednesday, on the eve of the quarterfinal match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium.
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Oliseh, one of the tournament’s standout stars, was registered after an altercation with Matias Galarza in the final minutes of a temperamental game in Philadelphia.
Replays showed there was little contact between the two players. As Bayern Munich star Olise put his finger in front of his mouth, the Paraguayan player fell to the ground and claimed he was punched in the face.
World football’s governing body’s decision to uphold the ban means Oliseh is now walking a tightrope – if he receives another caution against Morocco, he could be suspended for the semi-finals against Spain or Belgium.
Bradley Barcola and Manu Kone could also be suspended for the game against Paraguay.
Deschamps said that midfielder Aurélien Choameny missed the match against Paraguay due to a thigh injury, but is recovering well.
“Aurélien is feeling better. I can’t say anything more. He will probably train today, but we have to wait and see. All the others are available,” he said of the Real Madrid player.
France’s head coach refused to let the appointment of the Argentine referee for the match become a controversy.
Facundo Tero will be in charge of Thursday’s last-eight tie match. The rivalry between France and Argentina arose in the 2022 World Cup final, with Argentina winning on penalties.
Argentina’s 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16 on Tuesday was coached by France’s François Letexier. The Egyptian Football Association said it had lodged a complaint following a controversial decision in the match.
“There’s nothing I can do about the appointment of referees. I just try to trust the referees,” Deschamps said.
“I hope Mr. Tello and his assistants are as good as Mr. Letexier and his assistants.
“There are always decisions that can lead to debate, depending on which side you are on. But our opponent is Morocco. You can’t think of the referee as an opponent.”
Deschamps, who led France to glory at the 2018 World Cup, will step down at the end of the tournament after 14 years in charge.
That means if Les Bleus lose, Thursday’s encounter – a repeat of the 2022 semi-final, which France won 2-0 – will be their last.
“I’m not thinking about that at all. In my head, with my staff, the goal is just to do everything we can to make things go well. I’m focused on this Moroccan team and things going well for us,” he stressed.
