Could Keir Starmer intervene in Quansah red card suspension? | OneFootball

Minister hints Prime Minister ‘already texting’ US officials about England defender’s ban for Norway clash

Sir Keir Starmer could intervene in Jarell Quansah’s match suspension after Donald Trump reportedly had a hand in a US striker’s ban being lifted, a minister has hinted.

The England defender faces missing the World Cup quarter-final clash with Norway on Saturday after being shown a straight red for a sliding tackle on Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo during the second half of the contest at the Estadio Azteca.

It comes after President Trump is said to have lobbied FIFA to lift US striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban for a red card received in the team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Asked if Sir Keir could make a similar intervention, education minister Olivia Bailey told Sky News this morning: “What I’m supposed to say is politicians shouldn’t interfere in sports.

Jarell Quansah was shown a red card after a foul against Jesus Gallardo

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Referee, Alireza Faghani, let play go on following Quansah’s foul, which left Gallardo laying injured.

But after the video assistant referee called him to review the footage on his pitch-side monitor the England right-back was sent off for violent conduct and is now set to receive a one-match ban.

But over the weekend it was announced that Balogun would be available for the cohosts’ match against Belgium on Monday night despite his red card.

Fifa’s disciplinary committee said it made the decision in line with the body’s disciplinary code, which allows it to suspend red cards if the discipline was not related to match-fixing.

Balogun will be on a probationary period of one year.

The US President praised the decision, posting on social media that FIFA had “reversed a great injustice”.

Thomas Tuchel has jokingly suggested that Harry Kane should now ask Trump to overturn Quansah’s red card.

The defender’s suspension for the quarter-final leaves the England manager with another decision to make at right-back, amid fitness concerns over Reece James.

Asked if Quansah’s sending-off would be appealed, Tuchel told reporters: “To be clear it was not a red card. VAR got involved. The decision is made.

“Who overturns this decision and when and on what grounds? It’s strange for me. We want consistency. “I think it is not a yellow card, [that] Declan Rice [got in the first minute].

“Does France get the yellow card back for [Michael] Olise which was not a yellow card [against Paraguay]?

“Where does this start and where does this end? Do we appeal?”

Asked if Kane should intervene and ask Trump for a helping hand, Tuchel replied, with a smile: “Maybe!”