Michael Olise was booked following a coming together with Paraguay's Matias Galarza. Patrick Smith - FIFA via Getty ImagesJuly 6, 2026 10:56 am EDT Updated The French Football Federation (FFF) has appealed to FIFA to rescind Michael Olise’s yellow card during the World Cup last-16 win over Paraguay on Saturday.Olise, the France playmaker and one of the stars of the tournament so far, was booked after an altercation with Matias Galarza. The Paraguayan went to ground holding his face, but replays showed the Bayern Munich forward was only holding his shirt.The booking means Olise would miss a potential World Cup semi-final – potentially against Spain or Portugal – should he pick up another yellow card and France progress in Thursday’s quarter-final tie with Morocco in Foxborough, Massachusetts.Sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to do so publicly, confirmed that France had appealed the decision to the world governing body. FIFA has been approached for comment.The FFF’s move comes after FIFA suspended a one-match ban for USA striker Folarin Balogun following an intervention involving U.S. President Donald Trump, government officials, U.S. Soccer and an extensive legal team. The FFF insist its appeal is not a direct response to the Balogun case and that Olise’s yellow card was an injustice in its own right.Balogun was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first knockout round but is now able to face Belgium in Monday’s last 16 tie at 5pm PT (8pm ET) at Lumen Field in Seattle.FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend Balogun’s ban for a year. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has appealed the decision, which has drawn widespread criticism, including from UEFA.The European governing body said in a statement Monday that the decision “crossed a red line”, and left “the integrity of the game … at stake”.UEFA added: “We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”Jul 6, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms