The World Cup Thread

[shoeless]

I doubt many Americans understand the strength of feeling about this ban being overturned. People all over the world HATE it. And that's despite the fact that 99% agree is wasn't a red. But that's not the point. Once it's given its given, that's football. It's not just the blatant corruption (we expect that) but the lack of understanding of what football is. This is the world's game and American exceptionalism doesn't get to fuck with it. You simply don't change rulings you don't like. You get on with it.

Man up America

As an American, I admit that I probably don't fully understand the level of hate the decision has created, but I can certainly sympathize with the outrage.

Infantino’s statement published on FIFA’s website says,

FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.​

​

Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues.​

During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.​

So, it sounds like Trump isn't the only head of state calling Infantino to complain. No doubt that the red card reversal is highly unusual and somewhat unprecedented. Is it really because the call came from Trump? Does he have leverage on Infantino, or did he bribe him? If so, did Infantino then strong-arm FIFA’s independent judicial bodies to make a decision to placate Trump? I dunno...maybe so. But if all of that happened, it seems like FIFA is as much to blame as Trump, if not more. I mean, they could have said no, the red card stays and Balogun sits out. Why didn't they do that?

Either the corruption is real and the anger is justified, or Infantino is telling the truth, and FIFA decided the red card was erroneous. It's a no-win situation for FIFA, but I hope it's the latter and FIFA aren't as corrupt as they're being portrayed.

Maybe FIFA overturns England's red card too, just to spice things up a bit.

 

[jbj]

This red carded player being able to play is going to have far reaching effects I think. It just shows the disgusting corrupt depths of FIFA/Trump and Infantino. I really hope team USA do the right thing and bench him or they'll be tarred with the same brush.

I've still seen very little of the tournament but this leaves a really bad taste in my mouth that they can, on a whim, undo one of the basic rules of the format with no transparency or explanation.

Just read there that UEFA have come out against FIFA. Hopefully other governing bodies do too.

The Mexican fans booing the playing of the English national anthem was pathetic.

You should hear the Scotland fans during it. Laughable given how the fans and media like to portray the tartan army.

 

[jbj]

As an American, I admit that I probably don't fully understand the level of hate the decision has created, but I can certainly sympathize with the outrage.

Infantino’s statement published on FIFA’s website says,

FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.​

​

Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues.​

During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.​

So, it sounds like Trump isn't the only head of state calling Infantino to complain. No doubt that the red card reversal is highly unusual and somewhat unprecedented. Is it really because the call came from Trump? Does he have leverage on Infantino, or did he bribe him? If so, did Infantino then strong-arm FIFA’s independent judicial bodies to make a decision to placate Trump? I dunno...maybe so. But if all of that happened, it seems like FIFA is as much to blame as Trump, if not more. I mean, they could have said no, the red card stays and Balogun sits out. Why didn't they do that?

Either the corruption is real and the anger is justified, or Infantino is telling the truth, and FIFA decided the red card was erroneous. It's a no-win situation for FIFA, but I hope it's the latter and FIFA aren't as corrupt as they're being portrayed.

The corruption is very much real - which other heads of state or suit is calling him moaning about a red card given to a different nation?

According to the BBC this has only happened once before going back to the 70s or thereabouts, the reason being that it's a set in stone rule - you get a straight red, it's a ban - there's no discretion.

Shit like this is why so many people abandoned boxing. I'm a Rangers fan first , football fan second and barely watch any games outside that but you don't fuck about with the rules. I wouldn't expect trump to get the level of ill will this would create but Infantino definitely would have.

 

[pmc100]

BTW just to add, had the red been overturned (which is allowed in most leagues but not the world cup) absolutely no-one outside of Belgium would have had a problem with that. But it wasn't, it was just decided that the Americans get to keep their star player.

The corruption is very much real - which other heads of state or suit is calling him moaning about a red card given to a different nation?

According to the BBC this has only happened once before going back to the 70s or thereabouts, the reason being that it's a set in stone rule - you get a straight red, it's a ban - there's no discretion.

Shit like this is why so many people abandoned boxing. I'm a Rangers fan first , football fan second and barely watch any games outside that but you don't fuck about with the rules. I wouldn't expect trump to get the level of ill will this would create but Infantino definitely would have.

Whilst I disagree with @jbj on just about anything football related we agree here. The corruption is obvious. Infantino's statement is bullshit. Of course he leaned on them. Why else would a ban be overturned mid tournament? The first and only time it's ever happened before was in 1962 for Christ's sake! And even then everyone knew it was dodgy as fuck.

And again it's not just the obvious corruption. It's asking and expecting and accepting that it can be changed. That's just rude.

 

[shoeless]

The corruption is very much real - which other heads of state or suit is calling him moaning about a red card given to a different nation?

According to the BBC this has only happened once before going back to the 70s or thereabouts, the reason being that it's a set in stone rule - you get a straight red, it's a ban - there's no discretion.

Shit like this is why so many people abandoned boxing. I'm a Rangers fan first , football fan second and barely watch any games outside that but you don't fuck about with the rules. I wouldn't expect trump to get the level of ill will this would create but Infantino definitely would have.

Exactly, Infantino should have known the implications. OTOH, if it really was an independent committee that made the decision, maybe he had nothing to do with it.

In any case, it is not a good look for Trump, the USA, Infantino or FIFA. I suspect Belgium will use it as a motivator, and if they win, they can say they beat a full-strength USA team instead one that is a man down. Conversely, if the USA wins, the argument will remain that Balogun should not have been playing.