France approaches FIFA to overturn Oliese's 'controversial' yellow card

The French Football Federation (FFF) has appealed to FIFA to overturn the controversial yellow card shown to Michael Oliese during the match against Paraguay, according to ESPN.

France secured a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup Round of 16, with Kylian Mbappe scoring the winning goal from a penalty in the second half. However, the match was overshadowed by the contentious booking of Oliese.

Oliese was involved in a heated exchange with Paraguay midfielder Matias Galarza, who went down clutching his face. However, video replays showed that Oliese had only pulled Galarza's shirt, with no clear evidence of contact to the face.

A France team source had already told ESPN after the match that the FFF would appeal the decision, and the French side has now formally approached FIFA.

Overturning Oliese's yellow card is crucial for France, as he would risk a suspension if booked again in the quarter-final against Morocco on July 9. A suspension would be a significant blow for France at this late stage of the tournament.

France's appeal has been influenced by FIFA's recent decision to suspend the red card suspension of US forward Folarin Balogun for a year, allowing him to play in the Round of 16 match against Belgium. That decision, however, sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing FIFA of bowing to pressure following US President Donald Trump's intervention.

Meanwhile, the English Football Association is also considering an appeal over the red card shown to defender Jarrel Quansah against Mexico. ESPN reports that England are also discussing their next steps.