Quansah banned for two games after England red card against Mexico
The defender will miss the Norway quarterfinal and a possible semifinal, adding to England’s selection problems at the World Cup.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
England defender Jarell Quansah has received a two-match suspension after being sent off in the World Cup last 16, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. The ban removes him from England’s quarterfinal against Norway and would also rule him out of a semifinal if Thomas Tuchel’s side advances.
Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that the suspension was confirmed on Thursday. England face Norway on Saturday in Miami, with Quansah now unavailable as Tuchel deals with reduced defensive options in the later rounds of the tournament.
Quansah was dismissed during England’s 3-2 win over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca after a video review found he had made a sliding tackle with his studs up, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The match was played against one of the World Cup co-hosts, and England finished it with 10 players.
England reached the quarterfinals through goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. Bellingham scored once, while Kane converted two penalties in a result described by Al Jazeera as a rare home defeat for Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
The suspension means Quansah would be available again only if England make the World Cup final, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. England had considered whether to appeal after FIFA earlier overturned a one-match ban imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun during the tournament, the outlets reported.
England’s squad has also been hit by an injury to Jordan Henderson. Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that the midfielder had surgery on his left wrist after tripping over an advertising board during celebrations following the Mexico win.
Henderson has returned to England’s camp in Kansas City, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters, but he has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup. His absence adds another selection issue for Tuchel as England prepare for the Norway match.
The disciplinary decisions come amid other World Cup appeals. Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that France coach Didier Deschamps said FIFA rejected France’s appeal against a yellow card shown to Michael Olise in their last-16 win over Paraguay.
“The yellow card has not changed. We were notified by FIFA this morning; it has been maintained,” Deschamps told reporters in Foxborough on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. France were preparing to face Morocco in a quarterfinal at Boston Stadium.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.