Tuchel Slams ‘Erratic’ Refereeing After England Survive Mexico Scare
Thomas Tuchel did not hold back after England’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca stadium on Sunday night, launching a pointed attack on the standard of refereeing at this World Cup and warning that poor officiating puts teams at genuine risk of being knocked out of the tournament.
Reporting from the post-match press conference, The Guardian noted Tuchel’s frustration centred on the dismissal of defender Jarell Quansah, who was sent off following a VAR review for a challenge on Jesús Gallardo. England held on with 10 men to secure the win, but the Germany coach was clearly unhappy well before that moment — he had already taken issue when Declan Rice was booked in the first minute by referee Alireza Faghani.
A penalty awarded against Harry Kane after another VAR check led to Mexico’s second goal, compounding Tuchel’s grievances. “It’s just erratic, it’s just unreliable in matches,” he said, adding that officials “can send any team out in any moment.”
Tuchel argued the game has evolved considerably and that the standard of refereeing has failed to keep pace, pointing to the quality on show from so-called smaller nations. “Cape Verde plays on the highest level,” he said. “You need highest-level refereeing.”
The mood was further dampened by the news that Jordan Henderson has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament. The Brentford midfielder broke his wrist not during the game itself, but while vaulting an advertising hoarding during the full-time celebrations. He stayed in hospital overnight and requires surgery.
England are now considering whether to appeal Quansah’s red card. The Football Association could point to Fifa’s own precedent of overturning a one-game ban for USMNT striker Folarin Balogun following his sending off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to The Guardian. France are also said to be appealing Michael Olise’s yellow card from the same stage of the competition.
Despite the chaos, Tuchel was bullish about England’s prospects. Beating Mexico on their own patch, he said, “fuels our belief that we are here to stay,” and insisted that from the quarter-final stage onwards, any of the remaining eight teams can win the competition.
England face Norway in Miami on Saturday. Follow our World Cup 2026 hub for the latest previews and odds, or check the live standings to see how the draw is shaping up.