England weigh appeal to save Quansah from World Cup quarter-final ban against Norway

Jarell Quansah is set to miss England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway on Saturday after being shown a straight red card for a high tackle during the 3-2 victory over Mexico in Mexico City on Monday — and the Football Association is now weighing whether to pursue a challenge against the ban.

Referee Alireza Faghani did not initially award a free-kick for the challenge, but was directed to the pitchside monitor by VAR and subsequently dismissed Quansah. Video replays suggested the tackle was high and the general consensus among observers is that the red card was justified, complicating any potential appeal.

There is no formal direct appeal process at this World Cup, which would ordinarily make overturning the suspension extremely difficult. However, a precedent was set earlier in the tournament when FIFA intervened to suspend the one-match ban handed to United States forward Folarin Balogun, who had also been sent off following a VAR review. That decision allowed Balogun to feature in the USA’s round-of-16 match against Belgium, though the US were ultimately eliminated.

The intervention drew widespread criticism, in part because US President Donald Trump publicly revealed he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss a review of Balogun’s case. The episode has since opened the door for other nations to seek similar treatment.

The FA could argue, as the US did with Balogun, that the use of a still image and slow-motion footage in the VAR recommendation contravenes standard protocols — a procedural objection rather than a dispute over the severity of the challenge itself.

England’s decision is not straightforward. There is an acknowledgement within the camp that Quansah’s tackle was more clearly punishable than Balogun’s dismissal was perceived to be, which may make the FA reluctant to push for an intervention that could be seen as exploiting a loophole created by political pressure. There is also the risk that any appeal process, even if initiated, could leave Quansah in limbo rather than guaranteeing his availability.

The right-back position has been a persistent problem for Thomas Tuchel throughout the tournament, and losing Quansah — who has filled in at that role — deepens the selection headache ahead of what is England’s biggest game of the competition so far.