MASSACHUSETTS, USA: France coach Didier Deschamps says that their appeal of star Michael Olise’s controversial World Cup yellow card during their Round of 16 win over Paraguay was denied by FIFA on Wednesday. “There was no change when it comes to Olise’s yellow card. We received FIFA’s decision this morning that the yellow card was maintained,” Deschamps said. It means that if Olise were to receive another yellow card during France’s quarterfinal matchup with Morocco on Thursday, it would result in a suspension for a potential semifinal game. The country’s federation appealed the infraction that was issued to Olise in the 97th minute of their 1-0 win over Paraguay following his altercation with Matías Galarza. Galarza went to the ground during a skirmish between the two players, though video replays only seemed to reveal Olise grasping the Paraguayan’s jersey before he toppled to the grass. The appeal came after US President Donald Trump made a phone call last week to FIFA head Gianni Infantino to make the case that US striker Folarin Balogun should not have been suspended for Monday’s matchup with Belgium because of a red card in a game last week.
