Controversial Referee Ilgiz Tantashev Draws Criticism at World Cup

WHO:

Flashscore.com - Keith Hackett, a former Premier League official, stated that referee Ilgiz Tantashev should not officiate another game at this World Cup.

Sportskeeda - Ilgiz Tantashev, the referee from Uzbekistan, officiated the match between France and Paraguay.

Yahoo Sports - Patrick Ittrich, a commentator, criticized Tantashev's performance.

Yahoo Sports - Rayan Cherki and Kylian Mbappé, players from France, commented on the match.

WHAT:

Yahoo Sports - Rayan Cherki remarked, "I didn't know Paraguay could commit 30 fouls without getting a yellow card," referring to the referee's performance.

Yahoo Sports - Kylian Mbappé commented, "If we have to get our hands dirty, we'll do it. They thought we'd show up in tuxedos to play, but we also know how to play dirty football."

Sportskeeda - France won the match against Paraguay with a score of 1-0 in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Yahoo Sports - Tantashev was criticized for allowing Paraguay to commit 13 fouls without issuing a single yellow card during the match.

Yahoo Sports - The only yellow card issued during the match was to Paraguay's assistant coach Gonzalez after the final whistle.

WHERE:

Sportskeeda - The match took place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

WHEN:

Yahoo Sports - It was noted that this was the first time since Paraguay's 1998 World Cup match against Nigeria that they did not receive a single card.

WHY:

Yahoo Sports - Patrick Ittrich described Tantashev's performance as "the worst performance at this World Cup," indicating that he was overwhelmed by the match.

HOW:

Flashscore.com - Tantashev failed to recognize the spoiling tactics employed by Paraguay, which included an off-the-ball incident where a Paraguay player illegally used his arm on Mbappé, but no action was taken by the referee.

Yahoo Sports - Tantashev's officiating allowed Paraguay to commit multiple fouls without punishment, leading to criticism from players and commentators.

Keith Hackett, a former Premier League official, has stated that referee Ilgiz Tantashev should not officiate another game at the World Cup after a controversial performance. Rayan Cherki expressed his disbelief that Paraguay could commit thirty fouls without receiving a yellow card, while Kylian Mbappé emphasized that the team is prepared to play tough, saying, "If we have to get our hands dirty, we'll do it." Tantashev's failure to address the spoiling tactics of Paraguay, including an off-the-ball incident where a player illegally used his arm on Mbappé, has drawn significant criticism.