The French national football team is steering clear of any controversies regarding the appointment of Argentine referee Facundo Tello for their upcoming quarter-final match against Morocco, scheduled for Thursday during the 2026 World Cup. Players have emphasized that their main focus is entirely on the game itself, rather than on the identity of the officiating crew. This comes in light of previous criticisms directed at Uzbekistan referee Ilgiz Tantašev during the Round of 16 match between France and Paraguay, as well as the contentious situation surrounding the appointment of French referee François Letexier for Argentina's match against Egypt. The latter had raised eyebrows due to the historical rivalry between France and Argentina, particularly with the potential for a rematch in the tournament final.
Defender Dayot Upamecano has firmly stated that the team will not allow the referee's identity to distract them from their preparations. He remarked, "I won’t focus on who the referee is; we never have. Our concentration is on Morocco, and what we want is to win the match, that is the most important thing." This sentiment was echoed by third-choice goalkeeper Ruben Reiser, who urged against amplifying the issue of referee selection, suggesting that such appointments are based on merit. He noted, "We shouldn't fall into the trap of paranoia; it's your role (the media) to magnify these issues. It is true that there is lingering bitterness from the 2022 World Cup final, but that is part of the game. If these referees are here, it is because they possess the qualifications to officiate at this level."
Additionally, sources close to the French team pointed out that FIFA had previously appointed a Dutch referee for a match involving France and Sweden, despite the possibility of the two teams facing each other later, indicating that such appointments are not unusual. Referee Facundo Tello, aged 44, brings a wealth of international experience, having officiated two matches in the 2026 World Cup thus far, including encounters between South Africa and South Korea, as well as Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tello has previously refereed three matches in the 2022 World Cup, including the quarter-final between Morocco and Portugal, which ended with a 1-0 victory for Morocco. Known for his propensity to issue cards, Tello has shown a total of 16 yellow cards and one red card since his World Cup debut.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
