Jarell Quansah has been given a two-game ban for his red card in England’s World Cup last-16 victory over Mexico, leaving the defender devastated. Fifa announced the sanction on Thursday, saying it was for serious foul play.
Thomas Tuchel must now decide what to do at right-back for the quarter-final against Norway in Miami on Saturday. Reece James, who has missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury, is a selection doubt but it is understood that he could have some involvement, which points towards him being a substitute.
Tuchel’s most natural choice for the position would be Djed Spence. The manager could use Ezri Konsa there, as he did after Quansah’s sending-off against Mexico. Tuchel has said that he would rather not disrupt Konsa’s partnership with Marc Guéhi in central defence.
Tuchel was unhappy at the processes that led to Quansah’s red card, which came in the 54th minute after he stretched into a challenge on the Mexico left-back, Jesus Gallardo. The referee, Alireza Faghani, did not award a free-kick but he reached his decision after being called to the pitch-side monitor by the video assistant referee where he considered slow-motion replays and freeze-frames.
The Football Association are likely to have made representations to Fifa about the processes that led to Quansah’s dismissal. There is no right of appeal against a red card at this tournament, albeit the possibility of one being overturned has been opened by Fifa’s hugely controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban after the striker had been dismissed in the USA’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
