Why Jarell Quansah might be able to play next England game despite red card

Jarell Quansah could still play in England's next game at the World Cup, a quarter final clash against Norway on Saturday (11 July), despite being sent off in the Three Lions' 3-2 win against Mexico.

It was a game well worth staying up for as the English and Mexicans served up one of the most delightful and dramatic moments of the 2026 World Cup, with Mexico suffering a rare defeat at their home stadium thanks to goals from Jude Bellingham and a Harry Kane penalty.

England held on resolutely until the final whistle as Quansah's red card in the second half had reduced them to 10 men, and it gives Thomas Tuchel a possible selection headache for the next game as he'll have to do without the defender.

Or will he? This hasn't exactly been a World Cup where red cards have meant what they ought to, there's been much controversy over FIFA's decision to suspend the suspension of team USA star Folarin Balogun.

The American striker had been shown a red in the round of 32 game between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina for bringing the studs of his boot to bear against Tarik Muharemovic.

It went to a VAR call before Balogun was sent off, but he'll still be eligible for the game against Belgium tomorrow (7 July) thanks to a decision from a FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

Their statement read: “By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”

Basically, if he gets another red card within the year then he's serving his ban but for now he's free to step onto the pitch against the Belgians, and the ruling has been greeted with joy by US president Donald Trump and fury from the Belgians.

So what could this mean for Quansah?

Since the Americans benefitted from Chapter 4, Article 27, of the FIFA Disciplinary Code which states that a 'judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure', it's theoretically possible that England could get the same with Quansah.

There'd be a massive amount of uproar about it, there's already plenty around the decision to let Balogun keep playing despite his red card, but doing it again would open the floodgates to every team arguing their players who get shown red cards should be allowed to keep playing.

FIFA's ruling on Balogun suspends his red card, it doesn't overturn the decision nor say that it was wrong for him to be shown the card, but as long as he behaves himself for a year he'll escape punishment for it and crucially he doesn't miss the World Cup knockout game.

When asked if he might pursue this matter for Quansah, Tuchel joked that calling the White House would be 'a good starting point' before voicing his concern about what might happen to the World Cup if all players who are given red cards get the same treatment as Balogun.

He said: "Where do you draw the line? I have no answer to that. Where does this end now? Do we appeal if a yellow card is not a yellow card? Do we think it's not a red card, or who thinks it?

"Where does it start and where does this end?"

Quansah could get his red card suspended and be available to play against Norway if England argue that the same standards Balogun enjoyed ought to be applied to him, but it'd require some work behind the scenes and a willingness from England to actually give it a go.

A similar ruling was also previously made in Cristiano Ronaldo's favour after the Portuguese player was given a three match ban for violent conduct for elbowing Irish defender Dara O'Shea.

Ronaldo served one game of his ban and then had the other two suspended so he wouldn't miss any World Cup games.

Even if England could argue the same precedent ought to apply to Quansah, they may not want to as Tuchel's questions about where it would all end raise some very valid points.

Meanwhile, former England striker Wayne Rooney called the decision to suspend Balogun's red card an 'absolute disgrace'.

Rooney said he actually thought rescinding Balogun's red card would have been 'probably the right decision', but FIFA haven't done that and have instead adopted an approach where the USA striker's punishment is being suspended rather than cancelled.

The former striker said: "I think it's an absolute disgrace. Infantino should be ashamed of this.

"The sportsmanship of this game is in question here. If I'm USA's opponent, I'd be absolutely fuming. It's wrong in every way."

World Cup 2026 fixture schedule and UK kick off times

Monday, 6 July

Round of 16 - Match 93: Portugal vs Spain, kick-off 8pm - Arlington, US

Tuesday, 7 July

Round of 16 - Match 94: USA vs Belgium, kick-off 1am - Seattle, US

Round of 16 - Match 95: Argentina vs Egypt, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, US

Round of 16 - Match 96: Switzerland vs Colombia, kick-off 9pm - Vancouver, Canada

Thursday, 9 July

Quarter-final - Match 97: France vs Morocco, kick-off 9pm - Foxborough, US

Friday, 10 July

Quarter-final - Match 98: Match 93 winners vs Match 94 winners, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, US

Saturday, 11 July

Quarter-final - Match 99: Norway vs England, kick-off 10pm - Miami, US

Sunday, 12 July

Quarter-final - Match 100: Match 95 winners vs Match 96 winners, kick-off 2am - Kansas City, US

Tuesday, 14 July

Semi-final - Match 101: Match 97 winners vs Match 98 winners, kick-off 8pm - Arlington, US

Wednesday, 15 July

Semi-final - Match 102: Match 99 winners vs Match 100 winners, kick-off 8pm - Atlanta, US

Saturday, 18 July

Third Place Playoff - Match 103: Match 101 losers vs Match 102 losers, kick-off 10pm - Miami, US

Sunday, 19 July

Final - Match 104: Match 101 winners vs Match 102 winners, kick-off 8pm - New Jersey, US