FIFA might have set a precedent that may change the outcome of the 2026 World Cup.
After he was given a red card and disqualified from Team USA's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Flo Balogun had his one-game suspension overturned following an apparent call from President Donald Trump. The U.S. forward is now in the starting lineup for the team's Round of 16 match against Belgium, and the tournament is feeling an aftershock of sorts because of it.
Looking to get in on the overturning of card fun, the French Football Federation sent an appeal to FIFA. According to The Athletic's Adam Crofton, the FFF did so in hopes of rescinding Michael Olise’s yellow card, which he received in the team's win over Paraguay this weekend.
Olise was shown a yellow card after he got into a shouting match with Paraguay's Matias Galaraza, which ended in the midfielder flopping to the ground and holding his face.
As a result of the yellow, Olise is at risk of drawing another and being suspended for the World Cup semi-final, should France make it that far.
Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Olise has a tournament-high five assists, and is making quite the impression in what is his first World Cup.
At this time, FIFA has not yet announced its decision on Olise's yellow card.
