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World Cup: England reveals receiving no explanation for the defender’s 2-game suspension
11th July, 2026 05:49 PM
Thomas Tuchel has claimed that England have not been offered an explanation as to why defender Jarell Quansah was handed a two-game suspension following his red card against Mexico.
Quansah was shown a straight red card after a VAR review early in the second half at the Azteca for an ankle-high challenge on Jesus Gallardo.
While dismissals of this nature usually carry a one-game ban, it was upgraded to two as a result of the challenge being considered ‘serious foul play’.
Not good enough
Tuchel was critical of the officials post-match, claiming that the “referees are just not good enough”.
The upgraded ban also comes at a time when FIFA is under fire after suspending United States forward Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban for a year after his sending off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun was subsequently cleared to play in the 4-1 defeat to Belgium.
No explanation
There had been some suggestion that Tuchel’s comments on officials may have been a factor in the decision to extend Quansah’s ban, but the German revealed he had not been given a reason why that was the case.
“I don’t think so,” he said when asked if his comments could’ve impacted the length of the ban. “We also have no explanation.”
The Three Lions fought valiantly in the hostile atmosphere of the Azteca despite being a man down for the majority of the second half to progress to the last eight. Tuchel believes that spirit will be important in overcoming a Norway side brimming with confidence.
“I think we took a big step in our last match, but it was only a step,” he added.
“We’re still hungry, we still have dreams, and we still have a big goal to play for. The next step is to win the quarter-final.
“We left this match behind. We take the positive things and the belief with us, but everything that matters is ahead of us.”
