[Mark Ogden] Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is “astonished” by FIFA’s decision to declare Folarin Balogun eligible for USA-Belgium WC R16 game on Monday, RBFA says in statement. RBFA “investigating all potential options.”

[u/Time-Wolf]

https://www.espn.com/contributor/mark-ogden/7c83520f12d68

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[u/nsfgp]

Well ok don't stop there while you are at it. Not too late to give a red card now to that Paraguay 23 Galarza ... it is the right thing to do.

[u/TheHunterZolomon → u/nsfgp]

That’s way too lenient, should catch a 1 year ban for yesterday alone.

[u/Catch-22]

FIFA has such a clean sheet, why would they tarnish their spotless reputation like this? 

[u/pessimistkonsulenten → u/Catch-22]

It really devalues the prestige of the FIFA Peace Price. Trump should be livid.

[u/Palmerstroll]

Turns out Gianni Infantino is even more curupt than Seb Blatter....

[u/Dry-University797]

And Portugal

[u/Accomplished-Mango92 → u/Dry-University797]

When they came for portugal’s red card i said nothing. When they came for the us’s red card i said ):

[u/Vinen → u/Dry-University797]

They probably showed urrefutable evidence Messi shoukd have been red carded

[u/National_Accident514 → u/Vinen]

Messi would have had his suspension rescinded just like Balogun.

That being said, I really don't think both deserved a red card

[u/LanatusGG]

What is The Belgian association going to do? Appeal to the organization that made the decision to suspend the suspension?

[u/Budget-Variation-560 → u/LanatusGG]

Well it worked when Mexico and England didn't want the time of their match changed

[u/7LineArmy → u/LanatusGG]

Find the people responsible for suspending the suspension, and have them suspended, thus suspending their suspension of the suspension

[u/XSmooth84 → u/7LineArmy]

Suspenception

[u/Iabefmysc]

Say what you will about the red card standing or not, it’s fair for Belgium to be upset about a suspended player being reinstated the day before the match

[u/IPissExcellentThrows → u/Iabefmysc]

It is crazy to make the ruling a day before. That shouldn't have needed days to choose whatever they did.

[u/solojones1138 → u/IPissExcellentThrows]

Yeah this should have been decided within 24 hours since it was blatantly a call that VAR shouldn't have been able to review.

[u/Grand_Strategy_Noob → u/Iabefmysc]

This is my take too. If rule 27 was on the table, why take 4 days to decide? The red card was Wednesday night. It's Sunday afternoon. Belgium have been preparing for a US team without Balogun and now have to shift preparations with one day's notice. I think this is ultimately the right decision but way too late. Way way too late.

[u/Time-Wolf → u/Grand_Strategy_Noob]

This is how I feel as well.

[u/xesaie → u/Grand_Strategy_Noob]

They waited until they knew who,had the best bribe.

[u/kingchivo → u/Iabefmysc]

Id be abs livid if i was a belgian fan. Even with the ronaldo precedent just feels like this goes against all the fair play bs fifa preaches lol.

[u/denguy44 → u/kingchivo]

“Fair play”, that’s a good one! 😂😂

[u/threwou]

I think a lot of people in here need some counseling.

[u/pessimistkonsulenten]

According to article 9 FDC, a ref's decision on field cannot be reviewed by the FIFA judicial bodies except for obvious errors, but according to article 27 FDC, a disciplinary measure's implementation can be suspended by the judicial bodies for one to four years?

So by using article 27 FDC, the judicial bodies confirms that in their view, the red card was not an obvious error but it still decides to take such action that allows Balogun to play?

Edit. Link to the FDC: https://digitalhub.fifa.com/asset/5bd452de-0dd6-4342-93d4-53122ccb75b9/FIFA-Disciplinary-Code-2026.pdf

[u/Ooh_look_a_butterfly → u/pessimistkonsulenten]

Just to clarify 9.2 says " the FIFA judicial bodies may  only review the disciplinary consequences of that decision." My understanding is the refs decision isn't  reviewable under article 9, even for obvious errors, but 9.2 allows for article 27. 

[u/Narrow_Smell1499]

You guys are giving Trump way too much credit. It’s exactly what he wanted. He always tries to take credit for something he didn’t do

[u/golddeath]

"Option 1, move on. Option 2, suck our dicks" -FIFA

[u/DeliciousUse7585]

Hang on, you’re telling me the organisation who gave Donald trump a peace prize might be corrupt?!

[u/New-Grapefruit1737 → u/DeliciousUse7585]

shocked, i tell you

[u/GalaxyOfFun → u/New-Grapefruit1737]

astonished, even

[u/Chesneyg]

Trump has never been as popular on Reddit with Americans lmao.

[u/Necessary-Ad7150 → u/Chesneyg]

America united by exceptionalism

[u/dennisdamend → u/Necessary-Ad7150]

United in corruption*

There I fixed it for you

[u/panzermeistr]

Im glad this suspension being overturned is what opened peoples eyes to FIFAs corruption.

Qatar getting to host, South America getting 3 pity matches so Saudi Arabia can host, the 2010s shitshow with the FBI, all that shit pales in comparison to this /s.

[u/RespectTheAmish → u/panzermeistr]

“I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!”

[u/CityBoy1989]

Oof. This thread.

[u/Fragzor]

Someone check if someone in the White House put a bet on him being able to play

[u/a_phantom_limb]

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has an ad hoc division set up to settle disputes during the World Cup, generally within 48 hours, though I'm not sure that Belgium will have enough time to contest the reinstatement before their match tomorrow. But even if they can get a ruling in time, CAS might just say that FIFA is within its rights under the rules to reinstate Balogun.

[u/that_too_]

all potential options

So

Option 1: put up

Option 2: shut up

[u/OddS0cks]

Too bad their president isn’t a fifa peace prize recipient

[u/Soundrobe]

Maybe that they can cancel Olise's unfair yellow card too ?

[u/uscmike99]

Football
Is
Farce
Association

[u/_Fish_]

The comments here from other US fans because this time it benefits us. It’s hilarious.

[u/mangothunder1290 → u/_Fish_]

As a US fan a big factor is learning the more detailed rules for the first time. The play had an injury on an unintended but arguably reckless way that did warrant a penalty but the issues around all of this is how the ref called it pre/post VAR and the rules for VAR.

VAR is newer and evolving tech for the game so rules are likely changing often and not consistent across leagues. Being host has brought a lot of new eyes to the sport from US fans where they had no old rules to compare to. Longer tenured fans could have different versions or interpretations in their heads.

At the end of the day, rules read like ref fucked up with changing the missed call on the field. Inappropriately escalated to a red and then had the next game suspension ruling suspended to attempt to unfuck the situation. The actual play and foul on the field hardly mattered in the controversy oddly enough.

[u/Time-Wolf]

Any call the referee makes tomorrow night in favor of the U.S. is going to be questioned now.

[u/InvestIntrest → u/Time-Wolf]

Why? The red card was bad call so FIFA fixed that. This was the best possible outcome.

[u/siege-eh-b → u/InvestIntrest]

You have to understand optics though. Call transparently reviewed and suspension overturned the day after the game? No problem. Suspension overturned the day before the game after Trump calls Infantino? Cmon now…

[u/SpAn12 → u/InvestIntrest]

Making a closed door decision, with no accompanying reason, and doing so having received a call from the President of the host nation... Is not the best possible outcome. It's appalling for the sport.

[u/amishdoinks11]

When the red card happened Reddit was talking about how dumb it was and it should be revoked but now that it’s revoked everyone is claiming corruption and US bribing?

[u/christopher_mtrl → u/amishdoinks11]

It doesn't really matter if the red was desserved or not. Wrong ref decision happen all the time, all teams live with them. What matters here is that, per NYTimes reporting, Trump called FIFA head to get the decision reversed and got want he wanted. This basically never happens during a tournament, and now casts a shadow of corrumption and favoritism for some teams instead of a level field.

[u/SeniorDisplay1820 → u/amishdoinks11]

The issue is that it wasn't revoked, it was suspended for a year. 

So FIFA seemingly think 2 contradictory things a) that it was worthy of a red card and b) that it was not enough of a red card to warrant the normal suspension. 

Those two things together don't make sense. It's either a red card or it isn't. 

[u/throwaway8943265 → u/SeniorDisplay1820]

Per FIFA's own laws, red cards literally cannot be revoked after the game. FIFA's only recourse, if they believe a referee's decision was in error, is to suspend the disciplinary effects of the decision.

What ultimately caused FIFA to do this is going to be a matter of speculation - they thought the red card was wrong, or they thought the red card was right but that the VAR procedure was not properly followed, or Trump gave them a call - but they are certainly within their rights, either way.

[u/mishito19]

not sure why everyone WANTS red cards to be unappealable. especially considering some of the shitshow calls this tournament

[u/ITSHOBBSMA]

Ronaldo had a red card suspended and I don’t think people were complaining about it.

[u/TerrorTedje → u/ITSHOBBSMA]

Because Ronaldo is a handicap for Portugal.

[u/gnnr25 → u/TerrorTedje]

All of a sudden Belogun is better than Ronaldo? Ok Reddit.

[u/Agreeable_Design3337 → u/ITSHOBBSMA]

I’ve seen lots of people complain about fifa changing the rules to let Ronaldo play

[u/NeteroHyouka → u/ITSHOBBSMA]

They were... This is the second corrupt decision...

[u/RudderlessRudder → u/NeteroHyouka]

What about the other three who had red cards suspended for this tournament?

[u/dnemonicterrier → u/ITSHOBBSMA]

That's a lie loads of people complained about it, the only people who didn't where Cristiano Ronaldo fan boys.

[u/frankievejle → u/ITSHOBBSMA]

People complained about that shit when it happened. It was before the WC though.

[u/Chewy009x → u/ITSHOBBSMA]

Try again

[u/Open_Enthusiasm8528]

No matter what the right decision was, the appearance of FIFA caving to the President is going to taint the results.

Also, it’s going to lead to a lot more peoples leaders publicly going after controversial calls. Fucking shitshow.

[u/Nice_Dude → u/Open_Enthusiasm8528]

going to taint the results

People will forget about it immediately after the game, particularly if Belgium wins

[u/kyoto5678]

Any US win from now on will be tainted with accusations of corruption. No one can take them seriously knowing that their president can just hit up the FIFA headquarters to review decisions. Feel bad for USMNT players as they’re not to fault here but this is the price they will pay for their governments actions.

[u/LongGhost_Gone281 → u/kyoto5678]

Yeah its embarrassing. FIFA though, doing FIFA things cause they got bribed by the worst smelling, shittiest President in all human history.

[u/red_keshik]

Wenger should replace Infantino ASAP.

[u/Bolts_Bama_Bucs]

Look, I’m a US soccer fan through and through, I had my opinions on the Red Card, but if our government really had a hand in overturning this decision, I don’t see how you can view this as anything but extremely corrupt.

It’s an all around weird situation to say the least and I can understand Belgium being upset that they now have to prep a new game plan with only a days notice.

[u/Skip-13 → u/Bolts_Bama_Bucs]

FIFA wants US dollars. Just like they wanted Ronaldo fan dollars. To act like Trump twisted their arm is ridiculous. I'm sure they'll play it up as such to make themselves look "better". FIFA is one of the most openly corrupt organizations in the world.

[u/Wafkak → u/Bolts_Bama_Bucs]

Trump thanked Fifa publicly, I don't see tha guy caring if it wasnt because of him.

[u/apb-seattle → u/Wafkak]

You underestimate him wanting to take credit for anything

[u/Time-Wolf → u/Wafkak]

Can also see him taking credit even if he didn’t.

I don’t care either way. The suspension suspension is stupid.

[u/aldotcomments → u/Wafkak]

He would 100% take credit regardless of whether he deserved the credit lol

[u/Geoffsgarage → u/Wafkak]

If Trump actually did something he wouldn’t be able to shut up about it.

[u/brendanogo]

So nobody who got a red had to miss a game in the WC right?

[u/faramaobscena → u/brendanogo]

It says so in FIFA rules, if you are from a country where the president has received the FIFA peace prize, you are never suspended and you get a free penalty every match.

[u/Bengalbio]

FIFA should have announced this on the 4th of July with a military flyover.

[u/Zoostation1979]

Last three world cups have kept pushing the envelope for corruption.

I know it’s always been corrupt to a certain degree but the last three have been wild.

[u/Impossible_Advice449]

Still waiting on Olise yellow card getting revoked in that bs France-Paraguay game.

Just to clarify. I’m European and this is the same situation as Ronaldo. I was annoyed that he got a pass with his red card before the tournament. It’s bs

[u/floppymoppleson]

I can't believe the organization that gave Trump a World Peace Prize would do this.

[u/TumbleweedFew2854]

The timing is rough for Belgium, but I don't pity them for playing the US at full strength after a suspension that was bogus initially.

[u/Dull_Pollution4691]

today I feela corruption

[u/OnVisOch]

If Belgium forfeits, I call that a dub.

[u/Equivalent_Beat1393]

If Balogun scores the game winning goal tomorrow night, this sub is gonna blowup

[u/Alderson808]

Totally fair statement and basically says “corrupt and bias” without the actual words.

Article 27 to me is kinda comical because in the end all it does is a blanket: whatever the rest of these rules say, we can decide otherwise as we see fit. Which automatically creates issues of when/why it gets used.

[u/Ok-Serve4645]

Now we have to wonder if the refs in the game are going to be fair too. My guess is they won’t be.

[u/TheEndoftheRoads]

Ya know what? I’m beginning to think these FIFA fellas aren’t on the up and up.

[u/TheEndoftheRoads]

At this rate, Leonel Messi is going to have to murder an Egyptian in the tunnel to get a yellow card.

[u/akak907 → u/TheEndoftheRoads]

Nah, it will just be whistled as a hard but acceptable foul.

[u/DangerousStorage1]

Ronaldo has his suspension suspended so he could play in the tournament.

[u/Paul_my_Dickov → u/DangerousStorage1]

Which was also outrageous.

[u/Strat7855]

Questionable red card. Outright corrupt outcome.

[u/energytaker]

Have they tried investing in trump bitcoin 

[u/Final_Pop4821]

Regardless of who you support, FIFA needs to explain this decision clearly.

[u/Ok-Revolution-645]

Someone needs to bring in the Swiss.

[u/Ecstatic_Sand5417 → u/Ok-Revolution-645]

Why? FIFA modeled itself after the Swiss... that's why they so corrupt

[u/GreenBagger28]

Was the red card fully voided or just delayed suspension

[u/QueensOfTheNoKnowAge → u/GreenBagger28]

Delayed suspension

[u/thatboiOsaka]

What’s clear to me is that people saying “well now I’m rooting against the US” were always going to root against the US regardless of this decision 🤣 just be honest about it.

[u/nst_enforcer → u/thatboiOsaka]

Too right. I will be eating some waffles and taking a piss in the street on match day

[u/thatboiOsaka → u/nst_enforcer]

Don’t we all though

[u/funkychicken23 → u/thatboiOsaka]

Sounds like a good time to me

[u/wraith313 → u/thatboiOsaka]

Ding ding ding. Yes. the people complaining already hated the US and chime in anytime they get the chance. 

[u/Spirited_Tip_2127]

The focus here is on the wrong subject. Focus should be on HOW it got revoked.

Undue third-party / political interference under FIFA Statutes Articles 14(1)(i), 15(c), and 19(1), combined with a breach of judicial independence under the FIFA Disciplinary Code Article 32.

[u/mamegan]

i’d be mad if i were a Belgium fan so i understand, it’s not about fear it’s about principle

[u/Floridamanfishcam → u/mamegan]

I think FIFA made the right call to suspend the red, BUT by suspending it so close to the match, they definitely hurt Belgiums preparations so that's a legitimate grievance.

[u/Vagabond_Tea]

Idk why people are taking sides being against American and Belgium supports. Both teams have players that love the game and just want to win, same with their supporters.

The real bad guys are FIFA. Both the initial call and the reversal are both shady. It's the people in power to blame.

[u/Miserable_Article664]

Please research Ronaldo’s red card suspension while you are scraping for crumbs. FIFA is consistently evil. Nothing new here

[u/wcaps1996]

Infantino saw another opportunity to gargle Trump’s balls and jumped at the chance. The USA and FIFA are disgusting, just made for each other.

[u/PuzzleheadedClue9837]

If it's true that Trump basically directly intervened to talk to Infantino, it's a disgrace. This isn't about the red card which was very questionable. Rescinding the ban is not the issue here. It's how it happened. But it's also nothing new. FIFA has been corrupt forever and it's only getting worse.

[u/Horror_Salamander_31]

I love how Trump is fighting for a guy who got his passport through birthright citizenship, which he tried to strike down. Balogun is only american because his mother wasn’t allowed to board a plane to fly back home to London while almost 8 months pregnant. He returned to London when he was 2 months old :)

[u/-1927-]

It’s astonishing to me the amount of people who miss the forest for the trees by only focusing on the match and individual player

”Who cares if he gets to play? Belgium should be able to beat them anyway or they don’t deserve to be here”

”It wasn’t a red to begin with!”

”Why are people making a fuss over Folarin Balogun? Who cares?”

FIFA is allowing powerful leaders to influence their decisions. They’re allowing political pressure to decide which referee decisions should be allegable to be overturned. It’s selective, corrupt, and transparent. Would FIFA have done the same if Czech Republic had complained? If a Tunisian player got a questionable red card, would FIFA bend over backwards to make sure they could play the next game? Of course not.

Infantino is taking a sport that should belong to the people and is openly giving it away to the rich and powerful. Commercials during halfs, world cups hosted by dictatorships, unregulated pricing, and now; selective, special rules just to make sure Ronaldo and Trump are happy. FIFA can go fuck themselves. This outrage isn’t about a random red card for Balogun, it’s about the future or football

[u/Atlas809 → u/-1927-]

Well said, another checkmark for “FIFA is the most corrupt sporting organization in the world”

[u/TinaBurnerAccount123]

Why weren’t you complaining when they did the same for Ronaldo Belgium?

[u/fiftiethcow → u/TinaBurnerAccount123]

Cause USA bad, duh

[u/evetSC → u/TinaBurnerAccount123]

They hate us so much that they are willing to turn a blind eye. I don’t see the same amount of outrage for the missed red card on Messi

[u/There_is_no_toast → u/TinaBurnerAccount123]

hating the USA and wanting nothing but awful things to happen to the team is what Reddit wants.

[u/TinaBurnerAccount123 → u/There_is_no_toast]

Yup. Just a bunch of equally destructive and racist European colonial powers acting like their shit doesn’t stink. At least America knows it has problems.

[u/InfamousCattle3223]

Imagine if before the tournament someone said Folarin Balogun would have multiple teams up in arms about if he can play or not.

[u/Witch_King_Malekith]

This is like a double corruption (from the ref and then fifa). Double negative is a positive I guess.

[u/whogivesashirtdotca → u/Witch_King_Malekith]

Triple corruption: Trump was the one telling Infantino to drop it. You're back to negative.

[u/WayneKerr4]

Belgium has a chance to do the funniest thing.

[u/chipkeymouse]

All of this would be avoided if they did the sensible thing and kept appeals. It's not like they didn't see something like this coming.

[u/Hobowan42]

Let's say it was a bad call, continental and international football all around the world every week is full of bad calls, but practically NEVER is a ban overturned.

Its unheard of only in the most grave of circumstances, like they red carded the wrong player for example.

The americans saying it's a bad call and it's the right thing to do...you need to understand to the rest of the world this is a favour that's been given to you that is almost never awarded to anyone else in far, far worse calls.

In a knockout world cup game to the wealthy cohosts.

This is a real outlier in football decision making. It's weird.

That's why it's called out as corrupt

Because it bloody is.

[u/moistnote → u/Hobowan42]

FIFA is corrupt. You just now learning this? Oh wee lamb

[u/GNM20 → u/Hobowan42]

Was there all this outrage with Ronaldo? Cos I'm only hearing about it in relation to this one.

[u/baconwrappedpikachu → u/Hobowan42]

Like how they did the same exact thing for Ronaldo so he could play in the first few games he was otherwise going to be banned from?

[u/Hobowan42 → u/baconwrappedpikachu]

See above, I agree with you, the Ronaldo thing was equally outrageous, just because he's Ronaldo. I shake my head.

[u/Brilliant-Hand6445]

As a neutral fan I’m happy. Want to see both teams at full strength. The call was wrong, they fixed it.

[u/Averylarrychristmas → u/Brilliant-Hand6445]

This is the part I don’t get - this isn’t a judgement call, “he said she said” issue.

It’s a black and white violation of procedure, and everyone wants it to be something it’s not.

[u/Appropriate-Joke-806 → u/Brilliant-Hand6445]

No no no you’re wrong. A player accidentally stepping on another player’s foot in a game against Bosnia and having a replay booth make a 50/50 call means you should have to watch a game without one of the best players on the team in a tournament that happens once every 4 years and is only hosted here every 3+ decades in a deciding elimination game. Never mind no other straight red cards have been given for similar plays this World Cup.

[u/There_is_no_toast → u/Brilliant-Hand6445]

Agree. No one can see past that though.

[u/barstoolsam → u/There_is_no_toast]

It’s funny seeing the English or Argentina upset when 1966 & 1978 exists. Those were far far worse than a round of 32 red card decision that was frankly incorrect. If anything players should be thankful that this is the precedent going forward to protect them from shitty referring and VAR decisions that can affect future matches of teams.

[u/IronChefPhilly]

A week ago everybody was saying it was a terrible red card so now they've corrected it it's a problem?

[u/Knosh → u/IronChefPhilly]

Europeans woke up and shifted the narrative.

Anyone watching it live immediately said it was a bad call. Then about 12 hours went by and all of the football experts decided that Balogun attempted murder.

[u/RawlsTofJ]

I thought the red card was bullshit. The way VAR was used and the inconsistencies between matches where VAR didn’t check for potential red cards (e.g. Paraguay hitting/kicking players away from play).

With that said I would like to understand the reasoning behind the decision and why this particular case has been considered. I particularly don’t like that Trump may have influenced the decision by FIFA.

[u/jbokwxguy → u/RawlsTofJ]

Much like how the Argentine Cape Verde game was called full time before all stoppage time elapsed, all FIFA cares about is viewership’s and revenue and the USA is well frankly a lot more lucrative. Similar to how Argentina fans show up and spend a lot of money

[u/LifesAMitch]

It truly is astonishing that FIFA would do something like this. They've always been such a controversy-free org that's always on the up and up, so I get why everyone is so shocked

[u/FeeHot5876]

I mean if USSF couldn’t appeal it surely Belgian FA can’t do shit either

[u/lucash7]

I mean, they did it for others, and not to mention there’s history of giving the star players passes, so not too far fetched really.

[u/bluecheese2040]

Lay down with dogs get fleas. This is literally about as blatant and bad example of overt corruption I've seen re football. Even Russia and Qatar didn't do this

[u/No_Train_9932]

It makes sense for the RBFA to be upset and challenge this. Most would. But their argument via the statement above isn’t actually addressing the reason for the decision.

[u/Solly6788 → u/No_Train_9932]

Thing is Fifa stated no reason for the decision... And no they also did not cancel the red card...

[u/Scary_Ad_4025]

FIFA being corrupt is no surprise lol.

[u/Fuppenhammer]

I love lamp

[u/TechnicalSleep7501]

Report it so he is not able to play until investigation complete. That is easy way for Bel.

[u/New_Inflation_8419]

And trump has divided people as he always did. Less talk about his pedophilia

[u/RealJoshuaJackson]

If the US wins the cup we can say this is tarnished. There’s still a very good chance they go out in the round of 16. This just isn’t the end of the world.

[u/espanolainquisition → u/RealJoshuaJackson]

If the US wins the cup.

r/brandnewsentence

[u/ASafeHarbor1]

I can’t understate how hilarious it is, reading you guys be in shambles over the thought that Trump influenced this decision when literally 99% of you commented in the game thread about how egregious it was that he got a red.

[u/Adventurous-Ear-1024 → u/ASafeHarbor1]

One thing Reddit has taught me is that it’s truly an echo chamber. Most soccer fans on here are a vocal minority and majority of fans won’t care

[u/EmperorPenguin1116 → u/ASafeHarbor1]

Two things are true:

- It was a controversial red card

- Trump called this favour in, and no other nation would have been able to do so

[u/Jernbek35]

VAR was incorrectly used to declare a red card on an original non called foul. The punishment was correctly suspended.

[u/DadCelo]

Good, FIFA should ALWAYS be audited by an independent third party on controversial calls.

[u/Alderson808 → u/DadCelo]

If this was a formal, routine process then absolutely agreed.

Issue is that it seems to be done so variably. Certainly examples so far skew heavily (almost exclusively) in favour of bigger teams/players

[u/Johnny_McMuffin]

What do you want to do against corruption ?

[u/Bill_Sandwich]

Why are we acting like Balogun is Haaland

[u/sho0bydo0by → u/Bill_Sandwich]

I thought Pepi would do just fine in his place tbh

[u/J_Dom_Squad → u/Bill_Sandwich]

The answer to that is USA lives rent free in a ridiculous amount of foreigner's heads

[u/URokkaMyQuokka]

New York Times is just reporting that Trump called Infantino after the suspension, the inference being that he placed pressure to have the suspension removed... not a great look.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/trump-fifa-balogun-world-cup.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

[u/MongoBongo25]

Foodball federations should just withdraw from fifa at this point, this president makes Sepp Blatter looking like a model of honesty and integrity.

[u/repellediron]

Wow the organization that made up a peace prize to give to warmonger is corrupt?

FIFA has been a corrupt org for a long time

[u/thebhagron]

Everything Trump touches turns into feces

[u/Total_Put_6877]

This is so sad that FIFA has done this. Yes this is coming from an American. It’s ok to admit when something seems unethical.

Even if I don’t believe the call should have been a red to begin with, FIFA took over 3 days to come to a decision… the decision they made was not the downgrade of rescind, it was to suspend the suspension a full year.

Full transparency needs to occur in order for figure out what happened, this will never come from one of the most corrupt organizations in the world. They never are consistent and seem to let hosts and their brightest starts get away with whatever. I’m very conflicted on if I want the US to win tomorrow now. So sad it’s come to this

[u/XbxH1ghBEaM → u/Total_Put_6877]

If you are a US fan, why wouldn't you want the US to win tmr? It's highly doubtful the players had anything to do with this. It also fucks up the Americans because of all the planning they had against Belgium that was with the forethought that Balogun wouldn't be in the match.

[u/theaviationhistorian]

And before people think the US government had any hand in it, AP states that the White House called Infantino regarding this red card.

[u/voidmage898 → u/theaviationhistorian]

This is precisely why I've been so personally conflicted about this World Cup. I have been waiting my whole life for a competitive US national team. I want to be excited about hosting the World Cup - my wife and I even considered going to at least one game before FIFA gave Trump that made up peace prize. Trump has a way of ruining everything he gets his grubby hands on, and he does it regardless of whether he's invited in or not.

The more the US wins, the more he's going to claim the success for himself. We may never know what really happened in the phone call or the process the disciplinary committee was using to review the call. Maybe they were already discussing it when the White House made the call. Maybe they started reviewing because of the call. But it ultimately doesn't matter...the fact that the call happened calls the whole process into question. That's why a competent leader would never have done it.

I know that Team USA's successes are not Trump's success in any way, shape, or form, and I should be able to separate the two...but his own behavior makes it incredibly hard for me to do that...and that's not fair to Team USA nor anyone who plays against them. It taints each and every game.

[u/Expert_Collar4636]

Reverse the situation De Bruyne is fouled without calls the entire first half. BOH played hardball football the entire time, crossing lines that in any other venue would have earned them yellow cards. Yet, not one was issued to manage the game and player safety. Watching the 10 seconds in the lead up to the foul, He's watching the ball, and is hit from behind well before ball arrives, by a reckless challenge for a pass that turned into a 50/50 ball. The BOH player is the person to initiate recklessness. anything after that is HIS responsibility. Parce the facts of the match entire match, including the 4-6 yellow cards that were not issued and its easy to comprehend why they ruled as they did. Belgium doesn't care about who's on the pitch. They'll bring their A game as they always do. I actually think they'd want Florian their, winning by a shit call is not really winning.

[u/Secret-Put4088 → u/[deleted]]

The sad thing, I could see either one being true. I have no trust in Infantino or the Infant.

[u/FTBagginz]

Ah yes, the red card that shouldn’t have been a red card handed by the worst ref in this tournament who was investigated in Brazil for match fixing, interesting you are still crying about it lmao

[u/HB3187]

Some of that fifa corruption working innour favor.

But also, now we lost the built in excuse for losing

[u/leroydudley]

what a respectful discussion taking place here; the hate is real

[u/constantcockgardener]

I think the red card should have been a yellow, but this reversal is also shady AF. All that being said, there should be an appeal/review process implemented IMO.

[u/DolphinRodeo]

Even with all the rage in this thread, nobody is claiming that they didn’t get the actual call right with the reversal. The reaction is heavily influenced by it being a country that is popular to hate on Reddit. Anybody who knows sports knows that you want it to be decided by the players, not referee error

[u/naitch44]

No corruption here, no sir, nothing to see guv

[u/Kenevin]

Americans in this thread doing everything to prove they're just like Donald

[u/whogivesashirtdotca → u/Kenevin]

Explains a lot, doesn't it?

[u/bigboybigbat]

For everyone that thinks it was a wrong call, are they also gonna reverse Germany’s no goal. Refs make terrible decisions all the time. Unless they reverse it in game at the moment, it stays.

America has fallen in love with its corruption being open and shameless.

Side note: it was soft as hell. But it was a red. No ball. All foot. Even if you think it was not a red, there is not enough for it to be rescinded post match.

Edit: I think my comment came across solely anti american govt. fifa is equally to blame. It’s a blatant display and act of corruption by both. FIFA has shown countless times that the money and spectacle matter more than anything to them. The White House reaching out for a referee call is par for the course for this govt. it’s sad to the world lose the least bit of pretense of decency

[u/cacotto → u/bigboybigbat]

I remember being six years old playing football and being told if you hit someones ankles with the studs down you will be banned. Accident or not, its a potential career ending injury, and we see 100s of tackles a game where people dont make that mistake. You have to draw the line somewhere but FIFA decided the line isnt with potentially ruining a persons life forever.

[u/SharkSymphony → u/bigboybigbat]

There is a big difference between trying to modify the outcome of a past game and trying to adjudicate things that affect future games. If you squint you might be able to see it.

[u/Ok-East3405]

So many first time FWC watchers in the chat

[u/UndeadAnubis24]

While I don't agree with the original call, I think how red cards are handled is fine, and this special occasion seems unfair.

[u/qazaqstanley]

I’m not astonished. I fully expected FIFA to give us a special allowance as they love to do. It’s FIFA we’re talking about

[u/lkn240 → u/qazaqstanley]

Trump is trash, FIFA is corrupt and the red card was terrible.

I'm not going to cry about a bad ref decision getting overturned. FIFA and Trump are going to suck regardless - at least an unjust suspension is gone and we get to see the best players on the field.

I don't know how anyone who saw the France/Paraguay game yesterday could defend some of the officiating in this tournament. It's WAY worse than some of the stuff that goes on in the NBA (which is wild to say)

[u/WayOutbackBoy]

Why did Belgium say nothing when Ronaldo’s red was suspended?

[u/Heurtaux305 → u/WayOutbackBoy]

Did they play against Portugal?

[u/heyzeus92 → u/WayOutbackBoy]

Because it had nothing to do with them

[u/DanielSon602]

In my opinion, the red card was a bad call that was enforced using slow motion. One in fact, both players were jockeying for position. If they want to keep the red card oh well but FIFA better review Messi’s call.

[u/Forest_City_Frolfer]

It was a really soft red card. It would have been really sour for the US to be down their top scorer in such a big game over such a controversial call the game before.

Now if the US loses, then there are no excuses.

[u/he_chose_poorly → u/Forest_City_Frolfer]

Yeah, and it was sour when Blanc missed out on the WC final of 1998 after a controversial red against Croatia. But that's football. You deal with it. You don't send your president lobbying FIFA.

[u/World_Mammoth]

Man, if I was a Belgian fan and wanted a visible way to protest at the game, I'd bring a big-ass homemade red card and hold it up in the stands whenever Balogun touches the ball...

[u/Rabbit-Hole-Quest]

I guess the FIFA Peace Prize winner wanted special rules for his team.

[u/Kouzzzz]

Corrupt government works with corrupt corporation… in other news water is wet

[u/707Paladin]

I'm an American who wanted my team to win.

I'm not at all suited for any sort of knowledgeable or objective judgement on what constitutes a "good" red card vs a "bad" one. I follow football/soccer mostly during Olympics and World Cup periods.

I like to think the foul was more suited to a yellow than a red, but I've heard compelling arguments for the red that sound reasonable.

I'm not a fan of rules being changed like they have been, nor am I a fan AT ALL of political leaders applying pressure (real or imagined) to influence global tourneys...or any sporting events really..like this. The red card and the suspension should have stood soon as it wasnt an egregious call...which I don't believe it was.

So....while I cheer for Team USA, and wasnt thrilled at the red card, I would have preferred we not receive special attention or favorable rule changes. Had we gone all the way miraculously it would have been tainted at every step. And I 100% want my political leaders to mind their business....this was embarrassing.

This was a fun run up. But we hit a very real wall with Belgium and were outclassed at every stage of the match. We still have a lot of work to do before we can be anything but a "fun team to watch". Getting embarrassed even with this special accommodation was just icing on the cake I guess...