35 Comments
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John Wilson's avatar

Another well-researched article, Andy. Sadly, this incident is nothing new for FIFA which has a long history of corruption: Sir Stanley Rous, Joào Havelange, Sepp Blatter and now Gianni Infantino are the most recent examples. FIFA is institutionally corrupt. I can’t see anything changing soon. Football deserves better.

Dave Nash's avatar

EA sports didn’t need FIFA, neither does football.

Papasan's avatar

IN NOVEMBER VOTE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! BECAUSE IT DOES! TRUMP AND MAGA NAZIS ARE DESTROYING THIS COUNTRY TO ENRICH THEMSELVES AND THEIR CRONIES AND TAKING IT FROM THE WORKING RETIRED AND POOR! STRIPPING LAWFUL PROTECTIONS AND DOING AWAY WITH THE PROCEDURES TO REDRESS OUR VALID ISSUES! WHEN IT'S GONE IT'S GONE FOREVER!

Mike D.'s avatar

So actually there isn’t any statute disallowing phone calls and letters like this. You’re inferring a larger “principle” from provisions that aren’t about this kind of situation at all. They’re very clearly addressed to a certain kind of political interference, not others. If they addressed other situations, the language would be broader.

You’re literally making things up.

Andy Muirhead's avatar

Look up the rules on political interference. The US Soccer Federation DID NOT follow proper appeal processes and it took interference from Trump calling Infantino to get the red card suspended for a year. Nothing has been made up - in fact Trump boasted about it!

Mike D.'s avatar

Didn’t I just look them up by reading your article?

Why would you cite rules that are less relevant to the issue at hand than the ones that are most relevant? You cited rules about what happened; I assume then that you cited the most relevant ones.

And they’re not that relevant! They’re about governments trying control their own FAs’ management. You try to abstract a larger principle from that because the rules themselves are plainly not on point.

Not convincing!

I’ve tried to look them up. Google gave me… your article as a resource.

So does your article cite rules that are not the most relevant ones to the situation? Why do you do that?

Can you help point me to the actually-relevant rule(s)? Because the ones you cited aren’t relevant, and you admit as much. I was trying to look it up; that’s how I came across your article.

Mark Buchan's avatar

Well said! The Donald didn’t think it was a foul - of course he didn’t - has anyone told him of the Dunning Kruger bias.

Cindy Shackelford's avatar

Trump did it again! 1st jinked NBA game 3 and now the USA vs Belgium FIFA game

Wouter's avatar

I think the USA deserves a prize for dumbest goal of the tournament. They deserve it after this game.

serghiy's avatar

…that’s what happens when world allow to the dictatorship hold world cup that should be cancelled or moved to another country

…now you have it

Unfiltered's avatar

Never happen but should.

Susan Brych's avatar

12th man Daddy Trump

Craig Harry's avatar

Isn't the problem that Trump and Infantino don't care what the little people think. Trump is widely believed to cheat at golf, Infantino knows he can pay off enough global FAs to stay in position. They think those of us who play by the rules are suckers, ripe for the picking. UEFA could probably pressure FIFA but is it any better?

Milo's avatar

Lived in the US for 45 years but have returned to England. In part because of this shitstain of a president and administration.

I’m actively rooting against the US team.

Go Belgium!

🇧🇪

Brian Felushko's avatar

Maybe King Charles can make a phone call and get the red card given to the English player (in match against Mexico) reversed so he can play against Norway. We knew FIFA was corrupt; now we have even more evidence. They are ruining “the beautiful game.”

Fredrik's avatar

What is your take now that Keir Starmer has also meddled (by asking the match to be moved)?

Fully in agreement with your take on the US here, but then arguably, England should also be disqualified.

Craig Harry's avatar

He didn't ask for it to be moved. He asked for the original schedule to stand (ie the riles to be applied). Completely different