With a week to go before the first whistle, the tournament which normally unites the world already looks hijacked by politics, price-gouging, paranoia and pomp.
As mentioned on previous post about the corrupt relationship between trump and infantino, I think it has just been reinforced with the decision to reverse the red card Balogun received against Bosnia.
A phone call between buddies and he has had the ban suspended.
How many other countries are now eligible to ring infantino up and ask for their players bans to be suspended? I'll put money on it, that if they do, nothing will happen.
The sooner both of these narcissists are removed from their positions of power, the better the world, and football, will be.
Following their World Cup elimination, the Iranian squad’s next match was supposed to be against the U.S. asylum bureaucracy. Instead, they’re stranded in Mexico, desperately trying to convince anyone who will listen that returning home after surrendering three goals in group play constitutes a well-founded fear for their lives.
I flipped on a cable sports channel hoping for some World Cup action and got instead an Ultimate Frisbee tournament. It was surprisingly intense and exciting. I was on the edge of my seat. Leads to the question: Why aren’t 48 countries competing every four years for the Ultimate Cup?
It’s NOT fair that after winning its group, the U.S. is rewarded with having to play two countries in the knockout round: Bosnia and Herzegovina. All other teams only have to play a single nation!!!
I am not a soccer fan. However, I am a sports fan, and I’ve watched football, hockey, baseball, and basketball evolve over the years to become more entertaining and fan friendly. After one week of watching World Cup matches, I have a few humble suggestions to help soccer reach its full potential.
1. Get Rid of the Offside Rule
Half the goals seem to be erased because someone’s shoelace wandered three inches too far forward. In an already low-scoring sport, taking goals off the board feels like a strange business model. The best play in American football is the 60-yard bomb. Nobody cares whether the receiver got to the end zone before the ball did. If the ball ends up in the net, let the people celebrate.
2. Adopt Basketball’s Backcourt Rule
Once the ball crosses midfield, it can’t go backward. Enough of the endless retreating, recycling, and passing back to the goalie. Fans came to watch an attack, not a group project on ball possession.
3. Move the Penalty Kick Back
Move penalty kicks to the 18-yard box. As it stands, stopping a penalty kick requires roughly equal parts skill, luck, and divine intervention. Most saves happen because the goalie guesses correctly. Let’s make it more of a contest and less of a coin flip.
4. Add a Penalty Box
A yellow card should mean time in the penalty box. Different infractions could carry different penalties: five minutes for a routine foul, ten minutes for a dangerous trip or reckless challenge. The power play is one of hockey’s greatest inventions. Why not borrow a little excitement? Soccer could use a few more moments where everyone in the stadium collectively loses their minds.
5. Penalize Flopping
If a player is caught flopping, give him a yellow card. Fans are tired of watching a player appear to suffer a career-ending injury, require immediate medical attention, and then sprint 40 yards two minutes later to score a goal. If Hollywood wants that level of acting, they should have to pay royalties.
6. Stop the Clock
Get rid of the mysterious added time. If a player gets hurt, stop the clock. If a goal is scored and the team spends three minutes celebrating like they just landed on Mars, stop the clock. Ninety minutes should mean ninety minutes, not ninety-plus-whatever-the-referee-feels-like-today.
7. Pull the Goalie
A team down by one goal with two minutes left should pull the goalie and add another attacker. Hockey fans know this creates chaos, panic, desperation, and entertainment—the four pillars of great sports viewing. Sure, it may lead to an easy goal for the other team, but fortune favors the bold.
8. Improve the TV Coverage
Add more overhead cameras so viewers can actually see plays develop. Half the time the ball disappears into a crowd and we're left guessing whether the match is still being played. And while we're making improvements, one official timeout per half wouldn’t hurt. It would give broadcasters a break, fans a chance to refill snacks, and everyone an opportunity to remember where they left the remote.
These are just a few ideas to help this struggling sports institution get its footing and charge boldly into the future. After all, soccer only has billions of fans worldwide. Clearly, it's one or two rule changes away from finally making it big.
I am in no way a sports fan. Especially team sports. I loathe. them. I feel so sad and disappointed for the players that are coming in from all over the world. The mess they are walking into here in the United States is so unfair. I cannot believe we were allowed to host this event. Donald Trump is the worst host in the history of mankind. I am as embarrassed as I can be and the disappointment that the real fans must feel, my heart does go out to them.
Hey Andy! I’ve just published my first article on money involved in this World Cup! I hope you get a moment to read it! Would love to connect!
Thanks Andy, much appreciated!
Hey mate, will take a look later on today.
As mentioned on previous post about the corrupt relationship between trump and infantino, I think it has just been reinforced with the decision to reverse the red card Balogun received against Bosnia.
A phone call between buddies and he has had the ban suspended.
How many other countries are now eligible to ring infantino up and ask for their players bans to be suspended? I'll put money on it, that if they do, nothing will happen.
The sooner both of these narcissists are removed from their positions of power, the better the world, and football, will be.
This didn’t age well..
Following their World Cup elimination, the Iranian squad’s next match was supposed to be against the U.S. asylum bureaucracy. Instead, they’re stranded in Mexico, desperately trying to convince anyone who will listen that returning home after surrendering three goals in group play constitutes a well-founded fear for their lives.
I can't read this all the way through. First of all, soccer?
Ok it's better than war. But we have a war.
I flipped on a cable sports channel hoping for some World Cup action and got instead an Ultimate Frisbee tournament. It was surprisingly intense and exciting. I was on the edge of my seat. Leads to the question: Why aren’t 48 countries competing every four years for the Ultimate Cup?
It’s NOT fair that after winning its group, the U.S. is rewarded with having to play two countries in the knockout round: Bosnia and Herzegovina. All other teams only have to play a single nation!!!
Roman circuses
this didn't age well, sry
Things would improve if the FIFA put safety first over profit.
#ETTD
I am not a soccer fan. However, I am a sports fan, and I’ve watched football, hockey, baseball, and basketball evolve over the years to become more entertaining and fan friendly. After one week of watching World Cup matches, I have a few humble suggestions to help soccer reach its full potential.
1. Get Rid of the Offside Rule
Half the goals seem to be erased because someone’s shoelace wandered three inches too far forward. In an already low-scoring sport, taking goals off the board feels like a strange business model. The best play in American football is the 60-yard bomb. Nobody cares whether the receiver got to the end zone before the ball did. If the ball ends up in the net, let the people celebrate.
2. Adopt Basketball’s Backcourt Rule
Once the ball crosses midfield, it can’t go backward. Enough of the endless retreating, recycling, and passing back to the goalie. Fans came to watch an attack, not a group project on ball possession.
3. Move the Penalty Kick Back
Move penalty kicks to the 18-yard box. As it stands, stopping a penalty kick requires roughly equal parts skill, luck, and divine intervention. Most saves happen because the goalie guesses correctly. Let’s make it more of a contest and less of a coin flip.
4. Add a Penalty Box
A yellow card should mean time in the penalty box. Different infractions could carry different penalties: five minutes for a routine foul, ten minutes for a dangerous trip or reckless challenge. The power play is one of hockey’s greatest inventions. Why not borrow a little excitement? Soccer could use a few more moments where everyone in the stadium collectively loses their minds.
5. Penalize Flopping
If a player is caught flopping, give him a yellow card. Fans are tired of watching a player appear to suffer a career-ending injury, require immediate medical attention, and then sprint 40 yards two minutes later to score a goal. If Hollywood wants that level of acting, they should have to pay royalties.
6. Stop the Clock
Get rid of the mysterious added time. If a player gets hurt, stop the clock. If a goal is scored and the team spends three minutes celebrating like they just landed on Mars, stop the clock. Ninety minutes should mean ninety minutes, not ninety-plus-whatever-the-referee-feels-like-today.
7. Pull the Goalie
A team down by one goal with two minutes left should pull the goalie and add another attacker. Hockey fans know this creates chaos, panic, desperation, and entertainment—the four pillars of great sports viewing. Sure, it may lead to an easy goal for the other team, but fortune favors the bold.
8. Improve the TV Coverage
Add more overhead cameras so viewers can actually see plays develop. Half the time the ball disappears into a crowd and we're left guessing whether the match is still being played. And while we're making improvements, one official timeout per half wouldn’t hurt. It would give broadcasters a break, fans a chance to refill snacks, and everyone an opportunity to remember where they left the remote.
These are just a few ideas to help this struggling sports institution get its footing and charge boldly into the future. After all, soccer only has billions of fans worldwide. Clearly, it's one or two rule changes away from finally making it big.
Argentina’s win over Algeria yesterday in their World Cup match was very Messi.
If Trump dies before he can be charged with war crimes who do we charge then?
Couldn’t happen to a nicer organization.
I am in no way a sports fan. Especially team sports. I loathe. them. I feel so sad and disappointed for the players that are coming in from all over the world. The mess they are walking into here in the United States is so unfair. I cannot believe we were allowed to host this event. Donald Trump is the worst host in the history of mankind. I am as embarrassed as I can be and the disappointment that the real fans must feel, my heart does go out to them.