France-Paraguay referee handed rare ‘1’ L’Équipe rating
A referee in the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between France and Paraguay received a rare '1' rating from L'Équipe for his poor performance. The referee was criticized for failing to penalize aggressive play by the Paraguayan team while issuing multiple cards to French players.
Why it matters
High-profile officiating controversies in major international tournaments can impact match outcomes and spark debates regarding refereeing standards and VAR implementation.
After France 's slender 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Didier Deschamps said that he wouldn't criticise the referee of the encounter, nor would he criticise the South American opposition.
The article reports on a specific event and the criticism surrounding it, citing multiple sources including the publication and players.
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