England consider Jarell Quansah red card appeal after Fifa set Balogun precedent | OneFootball

England say they are “considering all options” regarding an appeal of Jarell Quansah’s red card against Mexico on Sunday night.

Three Lions defender Quansah, starting just his second World Cup 2026 match, was sent off in the 54th minute after a VAR review for a studs-up tackle on Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo.

The sending off means Quansah is currently suspended for the quarter-final tie against Norway on Saturday and, via the rulebook, there is no formal grounds for an appeal.

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Jarell Quansah is currently banned for England’s quarter-final against Norway (Reuters)

However, the “suspension” of Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban on Sunday – meaning the USA striker can play against Belgium on Monday – has changed the game somewhat. Fifa invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code, essentially handing Balogun a “probationary” sanction, and US president Donald Trump admitted on Monday that he called Fifa president Gianni Infantino to consider wiping Balogun’s ban.

A brief statement from a spokesperson for the England team on Monday read: “We are considering our options regarding any appeal following Jarell Quansah’s red card in Mexico City last night.”

Speaking about Balogun’s situation at the White House Monday, president Trump said: “I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports... That wasn’t a foul.

“That wasn’t even an infraction. This referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. He made a call that nobody could believe. He’s our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant... Yes, I asked for a review by FIFA.

“I didn’t know what the hell a red card was. When I found out, I said, ‘You gotta be kidding!’”

He went on to deny that he had set a destructive precedent for the tournament by making a political intervention.

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Folarin Balogun will now be available for the US against Belgium (Getty)

England boss Thomas Tuchel insisted that Quansah did not deserve to be sent off – and also criticised Fifa’s decision to overturn Balogun’s red card.

"Who overturns this decision and when and on what grounds?” he said at his post-match press conference. “And how far does this go now? It is just strange for me. We just want to have consistency in the decisions."

He continued: "Where does this end? I don't know the rules. I am the wrong person to ask. I will wait and see what's coming.

On two VAR calls which went against his team, Tuchel said: "We had three people on the VAR from South America, is that right? If this is what I saw, if this is correct... VAR overturns, a clear and obvious error for the penalty? For sure not.

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Donald Trump admitted to speaking to Fifa about Balogun's ban (Getty)

“They didn't even give a foul. They didn't overturn the yellow to a red. Not good enough, the referee and the fourth official was not good enough.”

If Quansah is not available to play, England face a shortage of right-back due to Reece James’ ongoing injury troubles and Tino Livramento’s pre-tournament withdrawal. Ezri Konsa finished the Mexico clash at right-back.

While England did remark on Quansah’s red card, they have not provided an update on Jordan Henderson’s freak injury after the midfielder injured his arm/wrist while falling over an advertising board during the post-match celebrations in the Azteca Stadium.