Jarell Quansah suspension explained: Who will replace him?
Jarell Quansah has been banned for two World Cup matches after his red card against Mexico. Here’s why, which games he’ll miss and who will replace him against Norway
Jarell Quansah has been handed a two-match suspension by FIFA following his red card in England’s World Cup last-16 victory over Mexico, meaning the defender will miss Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway and a potential semi-final if the Three Lions progress.
The decision has caused outrage in England because not only is a one-match ban is the standard punishment for a sending-off at the tournament, but it comes soon after USMNT striker Folarin Balogun saw his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina overturned.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee confirmed that Quansah received an additional match suspension after reviewing the incident, making him the only player among the 13 sent off at the World Cup so far to receive a two-game ban.
Jarell Quansah red card against Mexico
The incident occurred during England’s dramatic 2-3 round of 16 win over Mexico on Monday. Quansah went in for a challenge but led with his studs showing, catching Jesús Gallardo in the shin. Although it was initially not penalised by the referee, a VAR review swiftly followed, where the official was sent to the pitchside monitor and subsequently showed Quansah a straight red card.
England managed to hold on and secure victory despite playing with 10 men for the closing stages, but the sending-off immediately created concern about Quansah’s availability for the rest of the tournament, particularly given England’s shortage of right-backs.
Jarell Quansah FIFA suspension explained
Under FIFA’s World Cup regulations, any player sent off automatically serves a one-match suspension in the team’s next fixture. However, FIFA announced on Thursday that Quansah would receive an additional game ban, taking his punishment to two matches in total.
The governing body said the extra suspension was imposed by its disciplinary committee following the defender’s dismissal against Mexico. As a result, Quansah will miss the quarter-final against Norway and would also be unavailable for the semi-final if England advance.
The decision has surprised many because two-match suspensions for on-field red cards had not previously been given this tournament. England supporters are furious over why Quansah received a harsher punishment than other players dismissed earlier in the competition.
Why was Balogun’s red overturned but not Quansah’s?
Much of the backlash has centred on the treatment of Folarin Balogun. The United States striker was sent off against Bosnia and initially faced suspension, but FIFA later overturned the punishment and allowed him to play the round of 16 match against Belgium, which the USA ended up losing 1-4.
The lifting of the suspension came in unprecedented fashion, as US president Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding his complaints over the situation. FIFA subsequently used powers under Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the ban, despite there being no standard appeals process for World Cup red cards.
That sequence of events has led to accusations of inconsistency. England fans have argued that Quansah has been given an extra match suspension while another player had his punishment removed entirely.
FIFA has not linked the two cases, but the contrast between the decisions has become a major talking point ahead of the quarter-finals.
Who will replace Quansah against Norway?
The most likely Jarell Quansah replacement is Djed Spence. The Tottenham defender is a natural right-sided option, despite playing most of last season and earlier tournament matches on the left – and would allow Thomas Tuchel to keep the rest of his back line largely unchanged.
Spence has had a steady World Cup so far, doing well after coming on late against Croatia in the first group match. He faced significant scrutiny for the opening goal conceded against DR Congo, but another late cameo against Mexico, where he dealt with everything that came his way, makes him the favourite to come into the starting XI.
Ezri Konsa is another strong possibility. Tuchel used Konsa in the position after Quansah’s dismissal against Mexico, and the Aston Villa defender has the experience of playing there on occasions under Unai Emery. The downside is that moving Konsa wide would require England to make further adjustments in central defence, where he looks to be the preferred partner of Marc Guehi.
An outside option would be Declan Rice. The Arsenal midfielder has occasionally dropped into the right-back spot during the closing stages of previous England matches. But starting him there against Norway seems unlikely, because England would lose one of their most important midfield players in the centre of the pitch.
First-choice right-back Reece James remains out with a hamstring issue, meaning that Tuchel faces one of his biggest selection decisions of the tournament, particularly after deciding to not call up another right-back after Tino Livramento‘s withdrawal.
Here is our England vs Norway predicted line-ups with Quansah suspended:
What does Quansah’s suspension mean for England?
The timing is far from ideal. England’s route to the World Cup final seems as realistic as ever on paper, but losing a key defender for both the quarter-final and a possible semi-final significantly reduces Tuchel’s options.
Norway possess dangerous options on the left wing. There is RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa – who scored a beauty cutting in from the left against Senegal – and Benfica wide-man Andreas Schjelderup – who made two assists for Erling Haaland in Norway’s 2-1 win over Brazil.
Therefore, the Jarell Quansah red card also complicates predictions for England vs Norway, given that this makes the Three Lions far more vulnerable in a position where Norway possess potent threats.
Unfortunately for England, the disciplinary concerns don’t end with Quansah. Jude Bellingham will miss the World Cup semi-final if booked, as would Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly if cautioned against Norway.
For Quansah himself, the punishment is a bitter blow. The Bayer Leverkusen defender had the chance to become an important part of England’s campaign.
Instead, he will watch from the sidelines as England attempt to reach the semi-finals, wondering why one rule applies to some and not to others.
