You-know-who posted on Truth Social "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!".Big thanks to you-know-how for making this happen (don't want to be political, but we all know).
OT: We may win the World Cup in 2026
- Thread starter brad1218
- Start date
Two reasons they did it IMO.
1--They knew it was a BS red card
2--$$. The ratings for the US games have been huge, and they want to keep the money train rolling.
More offsides calls that erase goals than legit goals in soccer. First team to 1 wins!
Might be because Messi got away with a worse foul without any card, and people were talking about it.
Sorry your tiny American mind can't understand and makes ignorant comments.
More offsides calls that erase goals than legit goals in soccer. First team to 1 wins!
Not to be un-American but....what exactly is the reasoning behind suspending the suspension for a year?
Same question for the Ronaldo suspension.
If the suspensions are to be enforced, why are they suspended?
This gives real "NCAA making up rules as we go along. Preferntial treatment for big names" vibes.
Same question for the Ronaldo suspension.
If the suspensions are to be enforced, why are they suspended?
This gives real "NCAA making up rules as we go along. Preferntial treatment for big names" vibes.
New York Times is reporting that you-know-who DID contact Infantino to request a review of the Balogun red card.
Ok. That doesn't really have any relevance.
Than revoke the red card and punishment entirely.
If the red card is staying - then the punishment should stay as well.
Unless there is some reason to delay it (which I can't think of).
Its a little funny how everyone hates on the NCAA (and other governing bodies) for changing things on the fly - until it benefits their own teams of course.
At least Ronaldo and Balogun the suspensions are "suspended".
The rest they just said "Eh forget about it"??
Some guys are just like heat seeking missiles when it comes to finding the net.
Yeah, and think about that crazy save he had to make off that deflection.
Save of the match, really, even moreso than the PK probably. Such a difficult save, as the ricochet was a surprise and he was moving backwards with the ball way up in the air and twisting away towards the corner, but he got fingers to it to tip the ball off the post, making the save. Wow.
No surprise that Belgium and other FIFA countries are pissed off. I'm sure we'd be pissed off if the situation was reversed and it appeared some other country got special treatment. Yes, the decision to suspend Balogun's suspension is the correct decision, but now it's going to become some big political football, because, as most who follow soccer know, FIFA is one of the most corrupt organizations in existence and the Trump-Infantino connection is pretty cozy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/trump-fifa-balogun-world-cup.html
There are several players in the WC who were eligible to play because of suspended red cards including Ronaldo.
So let them cry, they said nothing about the others not having to miss a match so I see through their crocodile tears.
This. FIFA revoked red cards so as to not mess up WC qualifying so they simply did it again now as the red card never should have been issued. It’s unheard to go from no card to red card on VAR. normally it’s nothing to yellow or yellow to red.
I don’t care if people like Trump or no, but it is true that he intervened for Balogun and leveraged his relationship with the FIfA boss. He is an “interventionist” by nature and certainly there is debate if the interventions have been good or bad but nobody can say he’s not an interventionist.
A Harris/Biden admin would likely be less interventionist and likely wouldn’t have the relationship with the FIFA boss - and again - maybe that’s better or not, who cares?
So let’s just say this was “good for USA” and for once not f____ care if it’s a red or blue thing as it’s an AMERICAN thing!
Now let’s beat Belgium!!!!!!
A Harris/Biden admin would likely be less interventionist and likely wouldn’t have the relationship with the FIFA boss - and again - maybe that’s better or not, who cares?
So let’s just say this was “good for USA” and for once not f____ care if it’s a red or blue thing as it’s an AMERICAN thing!
Now let’s beat Belgium!!!!!!
I asked ChatGPT if FIFA is corrupt- there is strong evidence that FIFA has experienced serious corruption, but it is not accurate to say that every part of FIFA or everyone involved is corrupt
Big thanks to you-know-how for making this happen (don't want to be political, but we all know).
If I understand correctly, this is not an exact parallel.
I believe that the other cases were to expunge or suspend red cards which were incurred prior to the tournament (e.g. final qualifying match), which would have carried over to the tournament had they not been expunged. I know that was the Ronaldo situation.
The Balogun case is to my knowledge the only instance of forgiveness being granted for a red card issued DURING the tournament.
Match was on at the gym--I'm not usually too interested in soccer unless USA is playing---but I'm pretty sure Norway is my #2 soccer team now.I saw their 2 great goals and their goalie was Brodeur-esque.#VikingRow!
Last edited: