FIFA rejects appeal to rescind France star Olise's controversial yellow card in WC clash against Paraguay

France, the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up, will be aiming to make it three successive semifinal appearances as they take on African side Morocco, who are aiming to make history by becoming the first African nation to reach two successive FIFA World Cup semis, after having reached the semis in the 2022 Qatar edition. During the clash against Morocco, scheduled for July 11 at 1:30 AM as per IST, Olise stands at risk of getting a one-match ban if he gets another yellow card, which will make him miss a potential semifinal clash.

Olise was booked during the round of 16 clash against Paraguay, shown a yellow card during a highly-intense match which saw tempers flaring on both sides and players resorting to physical violence .A heated altercation with Paraguay's Matias Galarza during the match caused the yellow card. While Galarza fell on the turf, alleging facial contact, the TV replays suggested that the Frenchman's initial contact was limited to a tug on his opponent's jersey, as per Goal.com. The French Football Federation (FFF) later launched an appeal to have the card rescinded.

Speaking ahead of the match as quoted by Sky Sports, Deschamps said, "There was no change when it comes to Olise's yellow card. We received FIFA's decision this morning that the yellow card was maintained."

As per The Athletic, cited by Goal.com, the FFF approached FIFA to correct what it sees as a clear officiating error. This appeal came at a time when there was already a controversy about a red card going on in the tournament, with FIFA handing a one-match ban to the US striker Folarin Balogun after being shown a red card during his side's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, but interventions from US president Donald Trump and a legal team of US Soccer saw the red card being rescinded, with FIFA citing cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code to allow him to face Belgium in the last 16.

The move attracted criticism from the Belgian Football Association, fans and experts worldwide.

The Frenchman has been instrumental to his side's success in the tournament so far. Olise's five assists are the most by a player in a single FIFA World Cup since 1994 and one shy of levelling the record set by Brazil icon Pele with six assists in the 1970 edition. The Bayern star has already got two 'Player of the Match' awards during the group stage win against Senegal and a 3-0 win over Sweden in the round of 32, providing two assists in the latter.

His performance makes him a standout contender for the Golden Ball, with past legends, including French icon Thierry Henry, lauding his performance. (ANI)