French media gives World Cup referee worst possible score

The referee of the France-Paraguay match in the 2026 World Cup has drawn heavy criticism from French media. Ilgiz Tantashev, the Uzbek official, received a score of 1/10 from the French sports newspaper L'Equipe, the lowest possible mark.

France secured a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16, but the match was marred by physicality and numerous contentious calls. L'Equipe highlighted the referee's perceived leniency, noting that no Paraguayan players received yellow cards despite the game's intensity.

Specific incidents cited included a foul on Kylian Mbappé, a charge against Désiré Doué, and another tackle on the French captain, none of which resulted in disciplinary action. The only caution for the Paraguayan team was issued to a coaching staff member after the final whistle, further fueling the criticism against Tantashev.

The decisive goal came from a penalty converted by Mbappé in the second half, following a foul on Doué that the referee ultimately awarded after a VAR review. While France advances to the quarterfinals to face Morocco, the controversial officiating remains a significant talking point from the contentious match.

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The referee of the commitment was evaluated with a score of 1/10, the worst possible on the scale of the aforementioned media.