10 red cards! Argentina’s FIFA France vs Morocco referee once became a nightmare for players – here’s what happened

Referee Facundo Tello (Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Argentina’s Facundo Tello will referee the World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco, attracting attention for his strict handling style and a controversial match in 2022 where he showed 10 red cards. FIFA’s decision has also sparked debate as the entire match-fixing squad is from Argentina.Tello became famous after the Argentine Super Cup clash between Boca Juniors and Racing Club, where he issued 10 red cards after several battles and sharp confrontations. The match had to be abandoned after Boca had less than seven players left, which is against the rules.Since Tello became a referee in 2012, he has handed out over 2,000 yellow cards and over 75 red cards. He has already overseen two group stage matches at this World Cup, showing five yellow cards in Canada’s draw with Bosnia and two in South Africa’s win over South Korea. France’s Michael Olise will also have to avoid a booking as another yellow card would rule him out of a potential semi-final.FIFA confirmed that Tello, along with assistants Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chad, will officiate the quarter-final, which will be the first match at the 2026 World Cup to feature an all-Argentine refereeing team. The decision raised eyebrows as Argentina are still part of the tournament.However, France’s players insisted they are not worried about the appointment. Defender Dayot Upamecano said: “I will not focus on who will be the referee. We have never done that before, we will focus on Morocco.”Goalkeeper Robin Risser also backed the officials, saying: “It’s been a few years since the last final, but there’s a bit of bitterness, but that’s part of the game. If those referees are there, it’s because they’re at the level of the competition.”