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My, my how the tables have turned.
When FIFA announced that they’d suspended the red card punishment of US Men’s National Team striker Folarin Balogun, it set off a firestorm of criticism. European soccer fans, the Belgian national soccer federation, the Union of European Football Associations, and many other commentators were outraged that Balogun’s unjust red card had essentially been delayed.
Their complaints have been mostly incoherent and illogical, with UEFA’s statement in particular being laughably inaccurate.
“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition,” they said. “Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.”
Notably, UEFA had no complaints when Cristian Ronaldo’s three-match red card suspension was postponed by FIFA ahead of the World Cup. Under the exact same rule that was used in Balogun’s case.
But another critique of the process came from those who said that President Donald Trump’s involvement was an unacceptable violation of soccer norms. Essentially, that a politician should not make phone calls to FIFA leadership to question a decision or potentially influence an outcome. British host Piers Morgan was particularly consumed by inaccurate righteous indignation, accusing the USMNT of “cheating” and “not playing by the rules.”
MEDIA FIGURES MELT DOWN OVER TRUMP INVOLVEMENT WITH FIFA AS US STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN SET TO PLAY
Though of course, the USMNT did not cheat, and no rules were violated.
But the outrage from the Europeans and their fans over Trump’s involvement has been curiously missing from another revelation that was reported Monday morning: that British Prime Minister Kier Starmer called FIFA to intervene in favor of the England National Team ahead of their match against Mexico.
In the days leading up to England-Mexico at the Azteca, there were rumblings that the start time of the match might be moved up several hours to avoid forecast thunderstorms. But, according to British paper The Sun, Starmer directly intervened with FIFA to prevent that from happening.
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“The Mexicans were really talking up the storm and were pressing to move the game,” a source told The Sun. “But Keir was having none of it and suspected they were trying to derail the England preparations by giving less time to adapt to the altitude, so he put his foot down.”
Well, well, well! A politician interfering with FIFA in order to benefit his country’s national team? Unacceptable! Outrageous! Unfair! Appeal the whole tournament!
Obviously, Starmer and England got their way, and held on to beat El Tri 3-2 in a hard fought instant classic. Curiously, though, Piers Morgan and the very angry European fans have had little-to-nothing to say about a politician “putting his foot down” with FIFA. Should England go on to win their quarterfinal or entire tournament, their run will be tainted by this scandal, forever laden with an asterisk over this unacceptable atrocity.
