Cherki Slams Referee After Paraguay Match

Ryan Cherki, the star of the French national team, launched a fierce critique following France's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, expressing his astonishment at the refereeing decisions during the match.

Cherki stated: "I didn't know a team could commit 30 fouls without receiving a single yellow card."

The officiating by Uzbek referee Alghiz Tantashiev sparked widespread controversy, as Paraguay exited the match without any yellow cards, despite the physical nature of the encounter, while three French players received cautions. Kylian Mbappé also faced numerous strong challenges and provocations without strict penalties from the referee.

According to Opta statistics, this marks the first time Paraguay has finished a World Cup match without receiving a card since their game against Nigeria in the 1998 World Cup, a shocking statistic given the match's numerous clashes and tensions.

Refereeing decisions became one of the main talking points of the match, with many observers and media outlets suggesting that the French team had to engage in a "physical battle" more than a football match, before securing the win with a goal from Kylian Mbappé, advancing to the quarter-finals where they will face Morocco.