Saka calls Quansah's two-match World Cup ban 'incredibly frustrating' as Tuchel fumes at FIFA

Bukayo Saka has described FIFA’s decision to suspend Jarell Quansah for two World Cup matches as “incredibly frustrating”, while England manager Thomas Tuchel is reported to be furious at the ruling and has asked the Football Association to formally register their displeasure with the governing body.

Quansah was sent off during England’s last-16 victory over Mexico, and FIFA’s disciplinary committee subsequently confirmed a two-game ban — a punishment that cannot be appealed. Speaking to reporters at England’s Kansas City training base, Saka said: “I just found out that it’s a two-match ban which is incredibly frustrating for him and us. But it is what it is, we’re not here to complain — we’ll just have to adapt and pick a team that can beat Norway.”

Tuchel’s anger is said to centre on the manner in which the red card was reviewed, with the referee reportedly shown a still image of Quansah’s studs making contact with Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo upon arriving at the pitchside VAR monitor. The England head coach is understood to have immediately pushed the FA to communicate his dissatisfaction to FIFA, though the ban stands.

Quansah will now miss the quarter-final against Norway and, if England progress, a potential semi-final against either Switzerland or Argentina. His absence adds a significant defensive headache for Tuchel, who must reshape his backline without the Liverpool centre-back.

England face further suspension concerns elsewhere in the squad. Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Marc Guehi, and Nico O’Reilly are all one yellow card away from a one-match ban, having each picked up a caution in the knockout stage. Yellow cards are wiped after the quarter-finals, meaning a second booking would only result in a suspension if it came in the semi-final, ruling a player out of the final.