Imagine SEPP BLATTER calling you out for corruption…
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Presumably the same change to the rules will apply to any other player facing a one match suspension for their country’s next match!
If they’re going to change the rules they have to do it for everyone right?
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Gianni Infantino has been thrown under the bus.
Prez Trump: Yes I did, I spoke to Gianni…(2 mins later)…that wasn’t a faul, that wasn’t an infraction, that was 2 guys running at full speed that happened to crash into each other.
And now Infatino has replied via twitter:
“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance.
“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.
“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.
“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”
The most boring outcome is that Mr. Infantino put his lawyers to work on a comprehensive review and the decision is compliant with FIFA estatutes are everything is squeaky clean. But FIFA is a Verein (association) not that different to a small football club for children, same Swiss laws apply. Mitgliederen (Members - National football association) of the Verein (Asocciation FIFA) have waived their rights to go tell a Swiss judge that the Verein Statuten were not respected. This disputes should be managed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. But, in certain cases this waiving is not valid and National Associations can talk to a Swiss judge or…for EU countries, a judge in their own country.
Also, sports betting. What if people made a bet for Belgium after the red card counting on the important player to not play. FIFA is now making deals with betting companies and get money from bets. I AM NOT A LAWYER, but if FIFA themselves interpret rules, have an impact on the outcome of the matches, and also get an economic benefit from bets…is there a potential conflict of interest? It would be extremely funny if some lawyers from around the world say “let’s go, we can hit the jackpot”.
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The joke here is that Folarin Balogun is only playing for the US team because his pregnant Nigerian mother, on holiday in the US, gave birth in the US so qualifying him for the US team.
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Oh dear, never mind!
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Fools and cheats never prosper.
The Trump administration trashed the FIFA spirit of togetherness and sportsmanship.
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The further irony is that she wanted to board that plane back to her home (London), but she was denied boarding.
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USA out, I guess the red card deletion issue will be forgotten soon.
Unlike the red card issue, the third goal of Belgium will not be forgotten soon. Stuff like this happened when I was 13YO and played football in the school’s team:
I doubt it, the knives are out for FIFA and Infantino. If there is any evidence he influenced the decision, he will be cooked.
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He will only be cooked if the regional organisations abandon him. UEFA might, but the others love the revenue stream too much. Football is an incredibly corrupt business.
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FIFA’s reputation will be in tatters.
is in tatters…
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…has been in tatters since at least the “peace prize”
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Egypt 1 : Argentine 0 at min 14.
5 mins later, penalty in favor of Argentina but the Egypt goalie just stopped the shot from Messi
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Egypt 2 - Argentina 1 in min 80
Argentina finally started to play in min 70 and scored in min 78.
EDIT: never expected an Egypt - Argentina match to be entertaining…but it’s the year 2026. Current score 2-2
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That was some match. Argentina down 2-0 at 67-ish minutes and coming back with 3 goals to win without going into extra time. Hut ab!
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only 5-4 for best-in-everything-country-king? what a loser…
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