England defender Jarell Quansah has been slapped with a two-game ban by FIFA – ruling him out until the World Cup final.
Daily Mail Sport previously reported that the FA were considering appealing his red card after President Donald Trump controversially called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to overturn Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension.
United States forward Balogun had been sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina and was due to miss their Round of 16 clash with Belgium until FIFA succumbed to Trump’s pressure and controversially suspended the one-match ban for a year.
The move caused uproar, with UEFA branding the decision ‘unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable’.
However, Quansah has not been afforded the same fortune by the FIFA disciplinary panel, with a two-match ban imposed on the defender for his dismissal against Mexico in the Round of 16.
Red cards automatically result in a one-match suspension at the World Cup, but FIFA can extend bans as they see fit.
Jarell Quansah has been banned for two matches following his red card against Mexico
The England star will miss Saturday’s quarter-final and the World Cup semi-final if the Three Lions advance against Norway
The Three Lions defender was sent off for serious foul play after a high and late tackle on Jesus Gallardo shortly after half time in England’s 3-2 win at the Azteca in the early hours of Monday morning.
In a statement, FIFA said: ‘The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed the following sanction on England’s national-team player Jarell Quansah, who was sent off as a result of a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Mexico and England played on 5 July 2026 at Mexico City Stadium: 2-match suspension for a breach of article 14 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
‘The suspension will be served in the upcoming match(es) of the representative team of England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and in accordance with art. 69 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.’
The ban means Quansah, who filled in at right-back against Mexico, will miss England’s quarter-final against Norway on Saturday and the subsequent semi-final, should England be victorious over Erling Haaland’s side, most likely against Argentina.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, the President offered no apologies for his unprecedented move but insisted he did not demand Balogun’s ban was flipped in his phone call with FIFA’s Infantino.
‘Yeah, I did, I spoke to Gianni. I asked for a review by FIFA,’ Trump said. ‘That’s all I did. And, you know, again, I’m good at this stuff. That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed who happened to crash into each other.
Quansah was shown no mercy by FIFA days after Donald Trump’s controversial intervention
FIFA suspended star US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card following a phone call between Trump and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino
‘He (Balogun) didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s our best player, or one of our best players, a very vital player and they gave him a red card. I didn’t think it meant much. Then I started hearing that it means you can’t play in the next game, at least in the next game.
‘These were two great athletes who got tangled up. And this referee, who is a little bit suspect – if you check his past. I don’t want to say that because I don’t like to create controversy, but very suspect. If you’d like, I’ll provide you with his past.’
Trump insisted he didn’t force Infantino to make Balogun available.
‘I didn’t say “you have to do this”. Gianni is a smart, tough man and his stock is going through the roof,’ Trump said.
‘I didn’t know what the hell a red card was. When I found out I said “you gotta be kidding”. I said “wow, that’s a lot of power, that’s terrible”. But then I looked at his past and it wasn’t so great.
‘I didn’t tell him (Infantino) what to do, I can’t tell him what to do.’
Shortly after Trump spoke, Infantino released a statement on the growing backlash across the world.
‘Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues,’ Infantino said.
‘During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.
‘I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree. What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them.
‘Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.’
Balogun played but could not save the US from elimination, with Belgium running out 4-1 winners in Seattle. The Belgians promptly mocked Trump in the aftermath of their victory, jokingly performing the President’s dance moves in the dressing room.
Red cards automatically lead to a one-match suspension at the World Cup, but FIFA can extend bans as they sees fit.
The Three Lions defender was sent off for serious foul play after a high and late tackle on Jesus Gallardo shortly after half time in England’s 3-2 win at the Azteca in the early hours of Monday morning.
