France players have downplayed concerns over FIFA's decision to appoint an all-Argentine refereeing team for their World Cup quarter-final against Morocco on Thursday. The match, set to be officiated by Argentine referee Facundo Tello along with assistants Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade, fourth official Dario Herrera, and reserve assistant Christian Navarro, has sparked backlash on social media and in the French press due to the intense rivalry between the two nations.
France focused on Morocco, not referees
Despite the controversy, France defender Dayot Upamecano stated: 'I'm not going to focus on who the referee will be. We've never done that before, we're going to focus on Morocco. What we want to do is win this match, that's the most important thing.' Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser, third-choice for Didier Deschamps, added: 'We mustn't fall into paranoia; it's your role to stir things up. There's been a certain bitterness for a few years now since the last final but that's part of the game. If these referees are there, it's because they're up to the level of the competition.'
France's path to the final
France are aiming to reach their third consecutive World Cup final, having won in 2018 and lost to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 final. A potential rematch could occur this summer, with the two nations on opposite sides of the draw. However, Les Bleus must first overcome Morocco, with Spain or Belgium awaiting in the semi-finals. France's patience with officials was already tested in the last 16, where referee Ilgiz Tantashev was criticized for being too lenient in a brutal match against Paraguay.
Egypt files complaint over French referee
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association has filed an official complaint against French referee Francois Letexier, who oversaw Argentina's controversial victory over Egypt on Wednesday. Letexier, assisted by French officials Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni, is accused of bias, and Egypt has demanded he have no further role in the tournament. The all-Argentine refereeing team for France's match has added fuel to the fire, but France players remain unfazed, focusing solely on their quarter-final opponent.
