Published On 7/8/2026
The French national team players refused to be drawn into any controversy regarding the appointment of Argentine referee Facundo Tio to manage the confrontation between France and Morocco, scheduled for Thursday in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, stressing that their focus is entirely on the match and not on the identity of the refereeing crew.
Teo’s appointment came after the criticism that accompanied the performance of Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev in the match between France and Paraguay in the 16-final match. It also brought to mind the controversy that Argentina witnessed following the appointment of French referee François Leutixier to manage its team’s match against Egypt, due to the sensitivity of the competition between France and Argentina and the possibility of them meeting again in the final of the tournament.
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Upamecano: Our focus is on Morocco
France defender Dayot Upamecano ruled out any impact of the referee’s appointment on the team’s preparations, stressing that the team is accustomed to not being preoccupied with such matters.
He said: “I will not focus on the identity of the referee, we have never done that. Our focus is on Morocco, and what we want is to win the match, as this is the most important thing.”
Risser: There’s no need for paranoia
For his part, Robin Risser, the third goalkeeper of the French national team, called for not exaggerating the issue, noting that the selection of referees is made according to standards of competence.
He said: “We should not fall into the trap of paranoia. This is your role (the media) in exaggerating such issues. It is true that there has been ongoing bitterness since the 2022 World Cup final, but this is part of the game. If these referees are here, it is because they have the level that qualifies them to manage the tournament matches.”
Those close to the French national team also pointed out that FIFA had previously appointed a Dutch referee to manage the France-Sweden match, despite the possibility of the two teams facing off later, indicating that such appointments are not considered an exceptional matter.
A referee with World Cup experience
Argentine referee Facundo Tio (44 years old) has great international experience, having so far officiated two matches in the 2026 World Cup: South Africa against South Korea, and Canada against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He also previously officiated three matches in the 2022 World Cup, including the confrontation between Morocco and Portugal in the quarter-finals, which ended with the Moroccan national team winning 1-0.
Teo is known for his frequent use of cards, as he has received 16 yellow cards and one red card since his first appearance in the World Cup.
