Thomas Tuchel has voiced his displeasure at FIFA after Jarell Quansah’s initial one-match suspension was increased to a two-game ban following England’s World Cup victory over Mexico. The England head coach admitted that no official explanation has been provided by the governing body as his side prepare to face Norway in the quarter-finals.

England still seeking clarification on Quansah’s ban

Tuchel confirmed that the England camp has yet to receive any details regarding FIFA’s decision to double Quansah’s suspension after his red card against Mexico in the World Cup Round of 16. The defender was dismissed following a VAR intervention early in the second half at the Azteca Stadium for a high tackle on Jesus Gallardo. While such a straight red card would typically carry a one-match suspension, the punishment was increased after the incident was classified as serious foul play.

Tuchel presses FIFA for explanation

There has been speculation that Tuchel’s outspoken comments after the match may have influenced the decision, but the England boss refuted that idea, saying he has received no feedback from FIFA.

“I don’t think so,” Tuchel told reporters when asked whether his remarks had any impact. “We also have no explanation.”

Tuchel had already vented his frustration after the Mexico match, questioning the quality and consistency of refereeing during the tournament.

“It’s just not good enough. Referees are not good enough. Fourth officials are not good enough,” he told BBC after the game. “That’s the bottom line. Was it a clear and obvious error for the [Mexico] penalty? Certainly not, but VAR intervenes. They overturn a decision where he didn’t even call a foul. Not good enough.”

Tuchel urges England to stay focused

Despite the disciplinary setback, Tuchel has urged his players to maintain their focus on the upcoming challenge. He praised the team’s resilience in the intense atmosphere at the Azteca but stressed that more is required as the stakes rise in the knockout rounds.

“I think we made a big step in our last match, but it’s only one step,” Tuchel said. “We’re still hungry, we still have dreams, and we still have a big goal ahead. The next step is to win the quarter-final. We’ve put that last match behind us. We take the positives and the belief forward, but everything important lies ahead.”

England shift focus to Norway

England now turn their attention to their quarter-final clash with Norway in Miami. Although Quansah’s suspension remains an unwelcome distraction, Tuchel is hopeful his team will remain fully concentrated and deliver another strong performance to progress to the semi-finals.