Tuchel demands FIFA consistency after Trump's Balogun red card reversal opens England appeal door

Thomas Tuchel has publicly challenged FIFA’s handling of Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension after the governing body reversed the USA striker’s dismissal less than 48 hours before their match against Belgium, reportedly following a private intervention by US president Donald Trump.

The England manager made clear he believes the decision sets a troubling precedent — and one that could directly benefit his own side. Quansah was sent off by VAR during England’s match against Mexico, a call Tuchel has consistently disputed, and he now sees the Balogun reversal as opening the door to a formal appeal.

“Where does it start and where does it end? Can we overturn it?” Tuchel said. When asked whether Harry Kane might jokingly ask Trump to intervene on England’s behalf, the Germany-born coach replied: “Maybe! That’s a good start. I think this is great.”

Tuchel was careful to separate two distinct concerns. He acknowledged that Balogun’s red card may well have been the wrong call in the first place, but his deeper frustration was with the process by which it was reversed — and the lack of a clear, consistent framework governing such decisions.

“Who overturns this decision and when? And what from? It’s just strange to me,” he said. “We just want enough consistency in the decisions.”

On Quansah’s dismissal, Tuchel was equally critical of the VAR process. He argued that the high tackle on Jesus Gallardo was not even flagged by the on-field referee in real time, and that the subsequent VAR intervention relied on a freeze-frame image rather than the full motion of the challenge.

“You cannot take decisions on a still in a football match. It’s just not possible. And they did it, of course, against us,” he said. “For me, not enough for VAR to return the decision like they did.”

Tuchel also pointed to a yellow card issued to England in the opening minute of the Mexico match as a further example of inconsistent officiating, noting that Spain had successfully had a booking overturned in similar circumstances. “Can we get this back?” he asked. “I don’t know the rules. I’ll wait and see what’s going on.”

The comments reflect a growing unease among international managers about the transparency and independence of refereeing decisions at the tournament, with Tuchel’s remarks likely to intensify scrutiny on FIFA’s disciplinary procedures in the days ahead.