Les Bleus do not want to fall into the trap. While FIFA has appointed Argentine referee Facundo Tello to officiate the World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco on Thursday in Boston, the subject could have reignited tensions around the France-Argentina rivalry. But in the French camp, the message is clear: no controversy.
Five pro-Messi referees for France vs Morocco? Since the announcement of Argentine officials for this quarter-final involving Les Bleus, FIFA’s choice has obviously sparked plenty of discussion. After the tensions that have existed between the two countries since the 2022 World Cup final, seeing an Argentine referee take charge of a France knockout match is no small detail. Yet the French players refuse to see it as a problem.
France Focuses on Morocco, Not the Referee Debate
Dayot Upamecano quickly shut down the debate. “I’m not going to focus on who the referee will be. We’re going to focus on Morocco. What we want to do is win this match, that’s the most important thing,” the French defender explained at a press conference.
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Robin Risser struck the same tone. The France goalkeeper urged people not to fall into paranoia, as the refereeing topic is already beginning to attract attention. “We must not fall into paranoia; it’s your role to build up that tension. There has been a certain bitterness for a few years since the last final, that’s also part of the game,” he said. Risser also stressed that Facundo Tello’s appointment should not become an excuse before kick-off: “If these referees are there, it means they are at the level of the competition.”
The French message is therefore very clear: there is no point fueling a controversy before an already heated match. France knows this quarter-final against the Atlas Lions will be difficult enough on the pitch without wasting energy on the refereeing context. It remains to be seen whether Facundo Tello can keep the match under control, but on the French side, the objective is clear: stay calm, avoid distractions and focus only on Morocco.
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