Thomas Tuchel reveals England still yet to receive explanation over Jarell Quansah's upgraded two-game suspension after Mexico red card

Thomas Tuchel has claimed that England have not been offered an explanation as to why defender Jarell Quansah was handed a two-game suspension following his red card against Mexico.

Quansah was shown a straight red card after a VAR review early in the second half at the Azteca for an ankle-high challenge on Jesus Gallardo.

While dismissals of this nature usually carry a one-game ban, it was upgraded to two as a result of the challenge being considered 'serious foul play'.

Tuchel was critical of the officials post-match, claiming that the "referees are just not good enough". The upgraded ban also comes at a time when FIFA is under fire after suspending United States forward Folarin Balogun's one-game ban for a year after his sending off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun was subsequently cleared to play in the 4-1 defeat to Belgium.

There had been some suggestion that Tuchel's comments on officials may have been a factor in the decision to extend Quansah's ban, but the German revealed he had not been given a reason why that was the case.

"I don't think so," he said when asked if his comments could've impacted the length of the ban. "We also have no explanation."

The Three Lions fought valiantly in the hostile atmosphere of the Azteca despite being a man down for the majority of the second half to progress to the last eight. Tuchel believes that spirit will be important in overcoming a Norway side brimming with confidence.

"I think we took a big step in our last match, but it was only a step," he added.

"We're still hungry, we still have dreams and we still have a big goal to play for. The next step is to win the quarter-final.

"We left this match behind. We take the positive things and the belief with us, but everything that matters is ahead of us."

"It's the bottom line. Is this a clear and obvious mistake for the [Mexico] penalty? For sure not, but VAR gets involved.

"They overturn a situation where he doesn't even give a foul. Not good enough."

He would go on to add: "We give everything and then decisions are overturned in a very questionable way.

"But it's not only about the big decisions, the little decisions, the consistency in the decisions. You're just out there, it's like almost on the open sea, in front of the court, you don't know what's going to happen. They're just not on the level.

"You play at the highest level now. You need highest‑level refereeing. There are only athletes out there. The game has changed massively and it's just not good enough. It's just not good enough for the players, for the game."