A Red Card For FIFA – Moon of Alabama

July 6, 2026

A Red Card For FIFA

To any lover of football (soccer) the sucking-up by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the U.S. and Donald Trump has become unbearable:

According to media reports, Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to demand the world governing body review the suspension of the US top scorer – and FIFA duly obliged.

A red card leads to an automatic one-match suspension with no appeal. It is the first time since the 1962 World Cup that FIFA has reversed a suspension for a red card received during the World Cup.

On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”

A picture of the “great injustice” shows that this was a clearly deserved Red:

biggerThe Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), like billions of sport fans, is aghast about this incident:

Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line.

Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. 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.
…
We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.

Even the most pro-American voices around the world will see this as a dark spot in football history.

Hu Xijin 胡锡进 @HuXijin_GT – 16:49 UTC · Jul 6, 2026

Trump’s intervention in the red-card controversy in the World Cup match will certainly do considerable damage to US’ international image. If the American public believes that Trump secured benefits for them through such behavior and therefore thanks him for doing so, then I really have nothing more to say.

This will hopefully be the end of the utterly corrupt management of FIFA.

Posted by b on July 6, 2026 at 17:44 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Who cares? Its all rigged

Posted by: Mr. House | Jul 6 2026 17:46 utc | 1

This is a leading topic in all press in Occupied Europe. Its a huge scandel.

Posted by: Exile | Jul 6 2026 17:48 utc | 2

FIFA needed to eliminate the Outlaw US Empire as the host nation and bar its team as soon as it attacked Iran, no ifs ands or buts. It refused and attacked the Iranian team is dastardly fashion with scheduling and travel restrictions aimed at decreasing its abilities. FIFA, IOC, and some other so-called international sports authorities need disbanding or at minimum rejection by the Global Majority as they form new organizations not subject to Western or Commercial control.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 6 2026 17:53 utc | 3

It is indeed a disgusting and corrupt decision.

But FIFA has an equally disgraceful precedent:
“The first high-profile application of the FIFA Disciplinary Code in Chapter 4, Article 27, regarding a player suspension involved Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo received a direct red card during Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier in November for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea in the back.
The FIFA Disciplinary Code typically mandates a strict three-match ban for violent conduct, which would have ruled Ronaldo out of the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Instead, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee issued a suspended suspension using Chapter 4, Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This allowed Ronaldo to serve his one-match suspension in a pre-World Cup friendly and deferred the remaining two matches under a one-year probationary period.”

Posted by: dearieme | Jul 6 2026 17:54 utc | 4

Trump is the perfect face of the God Of Mammon cult that runs our top/bottom rules based Western order.

Raw abusive power on display and hopefully our species is in the process pf deprecating the God Of Mammon cult and its puppets like Trump. FIFA is just one of many organizations under the thumb of dying empire.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 6 2026 17:59 utc | 5

It would be ironic if this resulted in Trump’s demise.

Posted by: Old Microbiologist | Jul 6 2026 18:01 utc | 6

‘Infantino’ is too on the nose for this scared little baby

Posted by: Caveman | Jul 6 2026 18:04 utc | 7

FIFA should have moved the events from the home of Khameini’s assassins.

Posted by: paddy | Jul 6 2026 18:07 utc | 8

I fear that these outrages and the brazen corruption won’t end here. Throughout the tournament, the officiating has favored Argentina—the new colony of the US and Zionism in Latin America. From the moment the groups were drawn, Argentina’s path to yet another final was rigged by Infantino’s mafia. And that is not to mention the shameful officiating in the France-Paraguay match, where an Uzbek “referee” allowed excessive violence against the French—the team likely to face Argentina in the final.The FIFA of Infantino and Trump has killed the beautiful game. Even Blatter is appalled by the level of corruption that has been reached.

Posted by: gabriel moyssen | Jul 6 2026 18:08 utc | 9

Interference in a marathon of running back and forth without ever scoring hardly compares to murder, which he was already guilty of by the hundreds. But I suppose this what people around the world will get angry about.

Posted by: Dalit | Jul 6 2026 18:10 utc | 10

I love football – the game – not the things that surround it.

And this is the most blatant, most obvious, most overt corruption I can remember. Yes, it’s not the first time something like this happens, but this time, it’s done in such an obvious and open manner that I can only despair.

We know that Corruptino and the Orange Man are utter scum, but this really tops everything I have ever seen in top level international football.

This World Cup has seen “hydration breaks” (even when there is A/C) that are simply nothing but ad breaks, it has seen some atrocious referees, ridiculous opening shows, and now this. These scumbags have ruined the beautiful game.

I hope FIFA (Fixed It For America) burns in hell.
And we thought Sepp Blatter was bad…

Posted by: Verdant | Jul 6 2026 18:15 utc | 11

The USatan empire is invading, occupying, bombarding, terrorising, and committing so many crimes, including being accomplice in GENOCIDE, that the mere existence of this World Cup in USatan territory is insulting enough.

That you guys are watching this, instead of boycotting it, says a lot about the reasons why USatan continues to spread its evil, and the world does not change for the better.

Red card for you all, except for those that are decent enough to completely boycott EVERYTHING from USatan and from corrupt FIFA!

And UEFA pretends to be any better? The federation that invites Ukrainian nazis, israeli (not even Europeans!) genocidal monsters, and all the NATO war criminals, but punishes Russian and even Belarusian athletes?!

%he ISISrael is committing GENOCIDE and invading and/or bombarding half a dozen countries, and all UEFA does is punish… the European football fans that dare to protest against israeli teams…

Not even Hitler was as shamelessly evil as the so called “freedom and democracy” of the so called “collective West”!

Shame! Shame! Shame!

If I were the Iranian team, I would just enter the field and stay there, standing up, standing tall, refusing to play, while holding photograps of the children exterminated by USatan and its ISISrael proxy aided by their gulf islamic dictatorship vassals.

Now THAT I would like to watch!

But no, the world isn’t decent enough… so, what’s next? A FIFA competition in ISISrael with matches being played while the genocide goes on?
Or a UEFA competition in Kiev with the people in the stadium stretching their right arm and chanting “slava ukraina” and waving black and red flags, while the dictator holds a picture of Stepan Bandera?
or perhaps the summer Olympics in Guantanamo… and the winter Olympics in Kosovo…
And why not an Eurovision song festival in Turkey, while it keeps invading Kurdistan and (with NATO=USatan orders) keeps giving money and weapons to al-Qaeda in Syria…

What’s the limit? Since this FIFA/USatan shame is not your red line, then what is? Do you guys have any red line at all?!?

BOYCOTT EVERYTHING FROM USatan!!!
And from ISISrael!!!
And UkraiNAZIstan!!!
And NATO war criminals!!!
Have ZERO tolerance towards USatan’s proxies and vassals and corrupted institutions!!!

Fight against your weakness called FOMO (fear of missing out), and start living with the decency of CORC: courage of refusing complicity!!!

Posted by: Carlos Marques | Jul 6 2026 18:25 utc | 12

Hopefully the coach of the US Team will bench Balogun. If he plays and USA wins everyone will know that the result is tainted. In my opinion he would be needed more in the next game than this one though Belgium is pretty tough.

The real kick in the head is that Balogun is a US citizen because his mother was not allowed to board an airplane to go back to England due to the fact she was 7 months pregnant. He is an anchor baby or a birthright citizen which Trump is doing everything to take away.

Probably the most tone deaf thing this man has done for a least a few minutes.

Posted by: dan of steele | Jul 6 2026 18:27 utc | 13

Posted by: Carlos Marques | Jul 6 2026 18:25 utc | 12
—-

This reads a lot like whataboutism… you’re missing the actual problem here. Have you thrown your Intel/AMD/Microsoft/Apple hardware out of the window yet?
Oh, Israel hasn’t qualified and Iran has already been dumped out. Stop conflating things please. Though I must say, I totally understand you – you are not wrong.

Posted by: Verdant | Jul 6 2026 18:34 utc | 14

Shameful and disgusting. Surprising Trump didn’t insist they wear costumes and have nicknames like the like the “pro” wrestlers do, make a BIG show out of the whole sorry farce the World Cup has become. My heart goes out to those devoted fans like my twelve year old grandson and countless others, including the noble team of Cabo Verde for whom I have the greatest respect for their valiant effort against the current cup holders in a thrilling match not likely to be equaled in what remains of the tournament.

Posted by: Montefrío | Jul 6 2026 18:36 utc | 15

europeans sucking up to americans… where have i seen this before?

Posted by: james | Jul 6 2026 18:38 utc | 16

‘The USatan empire is invading, occupying, bombarding, terrorising, and committing so many crimes, including being accomplice in GENOCIDE, that the mere existence of this World Cup in USatan territory is insulting enough.’

Russia can’t participate because they are banned.

China would love to participate but aren’t good enough at the game to qualify.

Iran willfully plays games in the US even given their special training/practice arrangemetn in Mexico.

No one has boycotted.

The world comes to play soccer inside the ‘hegemon’ that they themselves say is behind most of the destruction of the world right now.

Posted by: Agonizing Reappraisal | Jul 6 2026 18:38 utc | 17

@ karlof1 | Jul 6 2026 17:53 utc | 3

true, but that is never going to happen… europe and all the nato poodles are 100% hypocritical.. and the media won’t say diddley squat about any of it either…. more and more people are waking up to all this, including turning a blind eye to the genocide that israel is responsible for…

Posted by: james | Jul 6 2026 18:40 utc | 18

Anyone that takes sport seriously is not an adult.

For kids there can benefits bit even then the generally ignored negatives are greater in most cases: they are taught to pick sides and hate a group for no reason except they are the other team. It teaches bullying et al. But at least for kids there are some benefits for playing.
For adults tho, it’s such a bald-faced opium of the masses play… wake the fuck up, you think sportspeople are promoted by the powerful for good reasons?!

Posted by: Rae | Jul 6 2026 18:41 utc | 19

‘comes to play soccer’

which is football to everyone, i know.

american here

baseball is the thinking man’s game!….

…or it used to be anyway…

Posted by: Agonizing Reappraisal | Jul 6 2026 18:41 utc | 20

The President of the USA intervening in a sports game is micro-management, when what is needed from a President is broad vision and macro policy.

Posted by: The Far Side | Jul 6 2026 18:42 utc | 21

2030 World Cup takes place in Portugal, Spain, and Morocco with initial matches in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Since World Cup moves on rotating basis the next in line for 2038 is North America.
https://thinkoutsidetheball.substack.com/p/world-cup-day-19-the-us-is-going
Expanding to 64 teams
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/absolute-joke-fans-react-talk-153000687.html
https://news.paddypower.com/football-news/2024/12/13/fifa-confirms-mordor-2038-world-cup-hosts/

Posted by: Thurl | Jul 6 2026 18:47 utc | 22

unsurprisngly its UK mainstream top newsheadlines re DT….but virtually nothing about Iran comemmoration events. Sick society.

Posted by: Jo | Jul 6 2026 18:47 utc | 23

A circus. Swirtzerland is the basket case. Nearly three quarters of the national team are not even natives.

Posted by: pepe | Jul 6 2026 19:00 utc | 24

England’s right back received a red card last night for endangering an opponent in one of the best refereed games of the tournament. The player made no attempt to pull out of that challenge and was rightly sent off.

The US game in which Balogun received a red card was one of the worst refereed games I have seen during this tournament. There were multiple instances in that game where players on the opposing side should have received yellow cards but if I recall correctly absolutely zero cards were issued until the moment the VAR called that Ref over for a review. Balogun landing on the players ankle was inadvertent and he appeared to pull out when he realized what contact was being made. No yellow card was given to Balogun for that act, just straight red after VAR review. The US was down to ten men and suffered see the game out against BIH.

While watching those actions in the moment I felt like that maybe the crew reffing the game might be putting their foot on the scale against the US, but was more than willing to let Balogun miss the Belgium game as I thought we could win without him, but I was disappointed in not being able to see the best US 11 continue to gel.

If I recall Howard Lutnick was at the game in question and probably started lobbying instantly, but I do not know. What I do know is there have been some potential red card acts that have received no action at all but no one is going back and retroactively penalizing teams as the Messi potential red card challenge in the Algerian game was ignored.

Pochettino has decided to play Balogun. The US was discounted by most of the pundits leading up to the World Cup, but I believed in Poch’s plan and the US players, so I will continue to support them. I will also say if Belgium was not afraid of the US they would have just kept quiet, but they did not.

Posted by: Laradise | Jul 6 2026 19:00 utc | 25

‘Anyone that takes sport seriously is not an adult.’

There is an old document from the 1800’s you’re not supposed to read and in this document the writers outline a plan for the world and in reading this bizarre document I came to see that the plan generally boiled down to two main objectives in order to gain and maintain control:

Inundate the world with numbers and competition.

The ‘true’ numbers – or the only ones necessary to understand what is really going on – will only be known by ‘them’ while the rest of us are awash in numbers that have less and less practical meaning in our lives.

The competition has infested every aspect of life down to the minute biological level and even if you don’t mind competitve sport in general and think it has its place it nevertheless has reached an incomprehensible level of intensity that borders on sociopathy.

I really mean that.

I understand that ‘cooperation’ can be learned and accomplished via competitive sport but it is within a very narrow range.

My experience shows me that intensely competitive sporting people aren’t any better at cooperating on larger projects or really anything else outside of that domain than anyone else…and in fact they are often worse.

But competition is actually pushed and sold as a great way for children to develop cooperative tendencies.

I believe this is largely false.

Posted by: Agonizing Reappraisal | Jul 6 2026 19:01 utc | 26

Carlos Marques@12:

“Fight against your weakness…and start living with the decency of courage of refusing complicity.”

Well said. And thanks to b for writing on this.

Genocide is not the beautiful game. Boycott FIFA 2026 World Cup

Reboot FIFA Launches ‘Class Action’ Against Infantino

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/reboot-fifa-launders-class-action-against-infantino

“People are rightly angered and frustrated by a range of issues, from exorbitant World Cup ticket prices, to FIFA’s offering of a Peace Prize to a man who then launched an illegal war on a World Cup participant,’ said FairSquare Director Nick McGeehan…”

Shame! Resign!

president@fifa.org

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 6 2026 19:11 utc | 27

I hate to poop the party; but this is just another example of the FIFA being a clown show
this edition, Russia was boycotted, but Israel is allowed
the one reason why they aren’t on the World Champion ship 2026 is they were not good enough;
Israel didn’t make it through the preliminaries.
the simple fact that Russia is kicked out and the West Asian Death Cult was not; should have been cause for a much bigger outrage
also; politicians going full powerplay at tournaments like this is a lot more common than you think.
Brazil pulled the exact same stunt and that was for the final.
Portugal is a team that often pulls foul tricks like this; but when it comes to cheating the game; Argentina is in a league of their own.
in 1974 they played a game that should have resulted in multiple red cards.
but the FIFA allowed them; because they are Argentina. God’s own team.
some years later; Maradona and his “hand of god”.
now; everything revolves around Messi.
Trump of course is the embodyment of Us exceptionalism and narcissim.
the game is completely rigged. and Infantino will pull everything to make the following possible:
it’s already in the cards:
the WC football final will be USA versus Argentina.

Posted by: valar Morghulis | Jul 6 2026 19:11 utc | 28

27 corrected:
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/reboot-fifa-launches-class-action-against-infantino

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 6 2026 19:15 utc | 29

Before Trump intervened, the soccer community widely agreed that the card should have been yellow and not red.

Posted by: Bart | Jul 6 2026 19:20 utc | 30

That picture, and Trump’s behavior afterward seeking special treatment allowing it, looks far too much like the way the US acted in Iran and Venezuela. The rest of the world will see it as the bully attacking them. This is dangerous for the US. We will get isolated as the enemy of the world, if we keep this up.

Posted by: Mark Thomason | Jul 6 2026 19:21 utc | 31

We will have to address this issue after the Norwegian championship is secured.
/s

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 6 2026 19:27 utc | 32

I would rather go to a Taylor Swift concert than a football game.

Posted by: ebear | Jul 6 2026 19:28 utc | 33

Boycott the World Cup.

Spectating is complicity.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jul 6 2026 19:28 utc | 34

Corruption pervades every corner of western created instutions. It is no longer discouraged. The wink and nod isn’t even necessary. They know it’s coming to an end. Fewer people see westerners as forces of good, friendship and support for Israel didn’t help. It’s all about lining your own pockets and favors.

“Grabbing hands grab all they can. All for themselves, not for all”

Posted by: Unsafe Data | Jul 6 2026 19:32 utc | 35

⚡️FIFA has allowed the USA to field up to 10 players from teams that have already been eliminated from the World Cup following a call from Donald Trump.
“I don’t understand, if these people are already here and the fans want to see them, why not use them? I’m grateful to FIFA for understanding, this will be a GREAT FOOTBALL DEAL!” – Trump stated.
It is reported that Vinicius Jr., Modrić, and Havertz have already arrived at the USA team’s base.

https://t.me/Slavyangrad/168533

LOL

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 6 2026 19:39 utc | 36

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 6 2026 17:59 utc | 5

Yes, let Trump continue exposing the corruption and depravity

Posted by: Chris N | Jul 6 2026 19:40 utc | 37

This will hopefully be resolved with a Belgian victory on the field.

The tournament has been quite good this year – lots of scoring and numerous highly competitive matches.

The treatment of the Iran team was atrocious, and the continuing boycott of Russia is ridiculous (particularly in light of the genocidal spree fully supported by western countries with teams in the tournament). In “fairness”, the USA should not be hosting these events (i.e. 2028 summer Olympics), but the money involved will grease those particular skids.

Posted by: jayc | Jul 6 2026 19:43 utc | 38

I would rather go to a Taylor Swift concert than a football game.

Posted by: ebear | Jul 6 2026 19:28 utc | 33

—

Ooophf!

Posted by: too scents | Jul 6 2026 19:51 utc | 39

Yeah, that particular frame looks bad, but the video isn’t as incriminating. They’re called accidents for a reason.

Posted by: Minha | Jul 6 2026 20:00 utc | 40

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 6 2026 19:39 utc | 36

Not sure if this is tongue in cheek or not. If it is, then it just reduces national teams to the status of club teams.

Players will go to the highest bidder, whoever can print the most money wins.

If it helps to destroy FIFA then I’m all for it.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jul 6 2026 20:03 utc | 41

The Game has always been beautiful for as long as I can remember.

I grew up watching Beckenbauer and Kevin Keegan. Who can forget Karl Heinz Rumminigge’s spectacular run from deep in Germany’s half cutting through the Mexican line and finishing with a fantastic goal.

Standout moment was watching Omar Biyik’s powerful header that led to then World Champion (cheaters) Argentina to an opening 1 -0 lost to Cameroon.

Then there was Zinadine Zidane, but not his embarrassing head butt (unlike Eric Cantona’s flying kick).

But, Argentina and Italy killed the Game for me. Then came Uruguay with the constant diving in the Box.

The rot was always there. Off the field, is it any wonder it trickles down to the players?

Posted by: Suresh | Jul 6 2026 20:04 utc | 42

@ChatNPC | Jul 6 2026 20:03 utc | 41

It is a joke, but after the red card incident it is understandable that it isn’t clear to all.

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 6 2026 20:06 utc | 43

Nothing says lack of faith in the US team louder than Trump, Lutnick, with a claque of attorneys, strong arming Infantino into rescinding the red card. A more considered and effective strategy would have been to complement the team on their strengths and underscore their ability to win a tough game without their star striker. Trump’s actions simply infantilize the team, while at the same time emphasizing that the US is a one trick pony – in sports, war, economics – power assertion, followed by even more power assertion. Neither diplomatic nor strategic.

Posted by: abierno | Jul 6 2026 20:14 utc | 44

Unfair?! You must be joking.
I don’t remember the Belgians complaining about unfairness when the rules were changed and Russia was banned from the WC and other international competitions. Or when half the Iranian trainers were not even allowed to travel with the team bc “terrorism”. Crickets when it happens to someone else.
Message to Belgians: have some of your crappy fries and a glass of blonde beer, and cry me a river after your loss tonight. Nobody cares.

Posted by: thephantom | Jul 6 2026 20:19 utc | 45

Posted by: abierno | Jul 6 2026 20:14 utc | 44

Americans never win fair and square.

If they can’t win they cheat.

It’s the Mary Dekker syndrome.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jul 6 2026 20:24 utc | 46

I thought the call was somewhat dubious, and banning America’s best player before a critical match was unjustified…

Posted by: pyrrhus | Jul 6 2026 20:26 utc | 47

while going thru this dreary world, don’t watch anything for entertainment, cuz if you do, you are complicit. to spectate is to participate.

so knock it off. for freedom. boycott everything. music, sports, movies, tv, radio, podcasts, news, weather, all of it. FB, X, xcancel, bluesky, InstaTic, GramTac, even the irresistible Mitch McConnell death knell.

anyway, complaining about Iran’s team participating? what’s the point of that? people want to watch professionals playing sports. nothing wrong with that. people could do a lot more boycotting of sports in general, but maybe it’s good for some internationals to get a firsthand taste of ICE’s home cooking.

capitalism turns tobacco into marlboro’s. oxy to fentanyl. coke to crack. bison to moo cow. chicken to buffalo wings. football into American football.

Posted by: duck n cover | Jul 6 2026 20:32 utc | 48

Trump always try to manipulate he is a fuckung wsr criminal.

Posted by: Tony asparagus | Jul 6 2026 20:32 utc | 49

FIFA should have moved the events from the home of Khameini’s assassins.

Posted by: paddy | Jul 6 2026 18:07 utc | 8
That offsides call against Iran was corrupt IMHO as well.

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Jul 6 2026 20:35 utc | 50

All a load of balls ! and men in short pants.

Now for a nice game cricket 🙂

Posted by: Fíréan | Jul 6 2026 20:39 utc | 51

Trump antics will some day be read like some of the more wacky anecdotes from roman emperors. Nero spent his rule singing and racing in front of audiences forced to be there and forced to cheer fanaticly. He had the olympic games postponed for a year, so he could compete, and forced the organizers to include new artistic competitions:

Nero’s Olympic participation included acting, singing, playing the lyre, and competing in chariot races. Of course, the somewhat overweight and unathletic Nero won every event that entered, including a four-horse chariot race that he entered with 10 horses and failed to finish when he was thrown from his chariot. He awarded himself the victory on the grounds that he would have won had he completed the race.

There is so much likeness between the two narcissistic and vulgar rulers, it is almost eerie. A circus show, but a sad disgraceful one.

Posted by: Hamburger | Jul 6 2026 20:44 utc | 52

what a god he is! defying the weather, and no one dare disobey, from cabinet member to very overworked trash remover, with all the adults sparing no sacrifice for deity as their children breathe in the glorious aura of godhood.

ditto FIFA. wasn’t there anyone in the “chain of command” at FIFA to say, “No, i’m not doing this?” no? no one dared.

why? cuz he’s a literal god in earth. changing FIFA rules left and right. defying Zeus. it’s such exciting times to see Caesar reborn. a 90 year old Caesar. will we ~~launch~~ see his star ascend to the heavens? soon? have we set a date yet?

Posted by: duck n cover | Jul 6 2026 20:44 utc | 53

‘capitalism turns tobacco into marlboro’s. oxy to fentanyl. coke to crack. bison to moo cow. chicken to buffalo wings. football into American football.’

Don’t you mean coca leaves into cocaine?

Or was that step communist and then the capitalists decided they wanted to smoke the cocaine?

The indigenous ivented oxy that the capitalists then turned into fentanyl?

https://i.etsystatic.com/6886385/r/il/c851c3/5574432567/il_680x540.5574432567_9ix0.jpg

Posted by: Agonizing Reappraisal | Jul 6 2026 20:44 utc | 54

If incidental contact merits a game and a half suspension, the sport should be left to the weak vassal states that care about it. It suits them. It is amusing how every subsequent step by officials is just another embarrassment.

Posted by: JMW | Jul 6 2026 20:47 utc | 55

🇺🇸⚽️ FIFA head Infantino is set to be replaced after he reinstated a disqualified American football player following a call from Trump.
This was reported on his social media page by The Guardian journalist Romain Molina. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is working on nominating another candidate from the organization.
The FIFA presidential elections will take place in March 2027. Previously, Infantino announced his intention to seek re-election.

https://t.me/ZandVchannel/191478

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 6 2026 20:50 utc | 56

Interesting that the majority of the world paid no attention to the US rules-based order when the US was using it to pirate ships, starve entire populations, bomb countries, assassinate and kidnap leaders, but now they suddenly notice that the US rules-based order looks a lot like Calvinball.
The US makes the rules, and then the US enforces the rules. No previous laws or rules apply.
See how it works, world?

This is a good thing, imo.

Posted by: wagelaborer | Jul 6 2026 20:53 utc | 57

Quote ” the majority of the world ”

a bit of an over statement

Posted by: Fíréan | Jul 6 2026 20:57 utc | 58

FIFA is a bunch of corrupt assholes, led my a corrupt asshole coming from a bunch of corrupt assholes.
That said, I think Belgium should just refuse to play if Balogun actually plays. As in, refuse to enter if he’s on the US team from the get-go, and just leave the ground and go back to their benches if he’s put as replacement later on.
It would even be better if this led to US qualification by default and every single future opponent does the same until the US “wins” the Cup because everyone refuses to play against these jerks from a shithole country.
I mean, seriously, contrast how the US screwed with foreign teams and shat on foreign supporters in customs with how Russia actually relaxed its own rules to allow people to enter the country without the cumbersome visa system that was the in place.

Posted by: Clueless Joe | Jul 6 2026 21:01 utc | 59

Nice to see you around @hamburger. He kind of envied Lil Kim from North Korea and the scenes of huge crowds all clapping frantically and waving little flags. He gets that now when he addresses Congress. The talking heads speak in awe of the number of standing ovations. I sometimes wonder if he just isn’t fucking with us in a sly way. Everything is a caricature of a dictator or Kaiser or emperor.

Posted by: dan of steele | Jul 6 2026 21:10 utc | 60

… And some folks red card discussion about an honest financial system, o well

Posted by: E | Jul 6 2026 21:13 utc | 61

Just like Reagan was much beloved because he played the part of president in a way that made people feel good. certainly not because he knew what he was doing or cared one whit about anyone other than his employers. Trump appeals to a different group of people. trying to get my head around that attraction has been frustrating

Posted by: dan of steele | Jul 6 2026 21:15 utc | 62

@ Agonizing Reappraisal #20
“. . . baseball is the thinking man’s game!… . . .”
Hmmm . . . Think you’ll find that CRICKET is the real psychological/thinking mans game, especially the 5 day Test match. Admittedly, the old timers who played in the days of no helmets, arm guards, etc. would likely see the modern game, with it’s shortened versions (ODI’s, T20), as “not really cricket old boy”
As to the soccer world cup. I’m with ” Dalit # 10. Part of the ‘who gives an expletive – it’s soccer’ – running up & down with occasional theatrics & gesticulating’ crowd. Now apparently includes dodgy refereeing & even more corruption that the last guy.
The SMO kicked off worldwide bans (& increased levels of manufactured hatred against) Russia. But the sneak attack on Iran warrants . . . . nothing. Hmmm . . . Maybe Russia should’ve killed all 404’s top leadership & a coupla hundred school girls on day 1 & they’d be hunky dory ???

Posted by: KiwiKris | Jul 6 2026 21:35 utc | 63

I can’t remember where I saw this quote, or who it is attributed to:

Football is a game for gentlemen, played by ruffians, whereas rugby is a game for ruffians, played by gentlemen.

Proper scrums, proper line-outs, proper drop-goals, proper clearing kicks that can turn defence into attack. None of this namby-pamby rolling around in agonising death throes because an immaculately manicured toenail got broken.

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 6 2026 21:48 utc | 64

… this is the most blatant, most obvious, most overt corruption I can remember. Yes, it’s not the first time something like this happens, but this time, it’s done in such an obvious and open manner that I can only despair.
Posted by: Verdant | Jul 6 2026 18:15 utc | 11

That pretty much sums up everything about Trump, doesn’t it?

Posted by: The Owl | Jul 6 2026 22:01 utc | 65

Hmm. Someone is playing soccer now? I hadn’t noticed.

The Americans sink Venezuelan fishing boats and the population in the West doesn’t notice. They fully support Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the public doesn’t want to know. They launch two wars of aggression against Iran and, once again, crickets. But overrule a red card decision in a children’s game and the western public freaks out!

That my friends is western morality in a nutshell.

Posted by: EoinW | Jul 6 2026 22:01 utc | 66

Posted by: pepe | Jul 6 2026 19:00 utc | 24

A circus. Swirtzerland is the basket case. Nearly three quarters of the national team are not even natives.

That got me interested, so I looked it up. All but three of the world cup squad were born in Switzerland, and every player was developed in the Swiss youth system.
So, you’re wrong.

Posted by: Peter Lynch | Jul 6 2026 22:01 utc | 67

@ wagelaborer | Jul 6 2026 20:53 utc | 57

i like where you are coming from by making this statement.. thanks..

Posted by: james | Jul 6 2026 22:04 utc | 68

‘Maybe Russia should’ve killed all 404’s top leadership & a coupla hundred school girls on day 1 & they’d be hunky dory ???

Well, leave the girls alone (obviously) and take out the leadership.

Of course, Karaganov says use a few nukes on Europe too.

I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue.

Posted by: Agonizing Reappraisal | Jul 6 2026 22:04 utc | 69

Rugby League or Rugby Union ?

Posted by: Fíréan | Jul 6 2026 22:06 utc | 70

¿Does anyone remember the similarity of Football and politics?
You must be smart enough to understand the rules … and dumb enough to think they’re important.

Posted by: Dfnslblty | Jul 6 2026 22:13 utc | 71

🙁 But Ranch dressing!

🙂 Maybe they can add that to the next [Licensed Sport League] [Roster Update] for [Next Year] video game.

😀 Hidden Valley Ranch dressing could be an in-game commercial. Or better yet maybe a loot crate team performance boost item! You cash in X amount of Ranch dressing item pulls to negate Y amount of penalty card!

😮 Then the game can finally be more exciting, filled with that ultra-violence that so pleases the Droogs from a Clockwork Orange. 🙂 It’s like all those dystopian futures are finally here! 😀 Aren’t you excited? 😉 Well, don’t get too excited, because you have to leave room for new product to consume, to replace old product that will be passé. 😀 Stay up to date on the news treadmill!

Posted by: titmouse | Jul 6 2026 22:15 utc | 72

Laradise | Jul 6 2026 19:00 utc | 25
*** Balogun landing on the players ankle was inadvertent and he appeared to pull out when he realized what contact was being made. ***

Look at a photo of it and see that it was a careless tackle — dangerous play. But no malicious intent. Might have been just a yellow card were it not that Balogun had — perhaps instinctively to try to steady himself — grabbed a handful of the other player’s shirt on the far side ….. which given the angles could even have pulled him down on top of Balogun, injuring both. Think perhaps that pushed it into being a red card.

If the US manager Pochettino had appealed (could he?) against the red card — no problem — though probably without success anyway.

But of course President Trump just had to push in on the act, badgering his sycophant Infantino.

The whole thing seems much less about the US football team than about Trump. And his type of Americans.

Posted by: Cynic | Jul 6 2026 22:17 utc | 73

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 6 2026 17:53 utc | 3

The end of football as it used to be, the new setup bans destiny from it, renders it not human nor divine, the Hand of God cannot occur with this new setup, with those hydrate stops that kill the game so the soft drink companies can hydrate its bottom line and the machine excluding human error, a very necessary element to make the game human. Checkout Kusturica’s film about Maradona, fútbol is finished, heroics are gone, money is in.

Posted by: Paco | Jul 6 2026 22:27 utc | 74

I wonder when ‘commercialized sport’ will join ‘military intelligence’ as the favourite example of oxymoron.

Posted by: Roger Milbrandt | Jul 6 2026 22:45 utc | 75

Posted by: titmouse | Jul 6 2026 22:15 utc | 72

“Because who wouldn’t want a face full of ranch dressing during their Brawndo break?”

Posted by: ChatNPC | Jul 6 2026 22:46 utc | 76

Posted by: duck n cover | Jul 6 2026 20:44 utc | 53

It is an exciting time, ‘interesting times’….history in the making! We have a new Nero, as big a fool and with similar power. Nero’s peers, the patricians, could only put up with so much of that and I expect this iteration to end in a similar fashion, though perhaps not as blatant and the wretched facade of bourgeois democracy cannot be too damaged.

Posted by: Iron Felix | Jul 6 2026 22:53 utc | 77

Just proud to be a Rugby player, such incidental contact wouldn’t draw a flinch on a pitch with real men on it. The flopping is simply pathetic. I’d perhaps care more if Belgium weren’t every bit the imperial abuser the US is.

Posted by: Scottindallas | Jul 6 2026 22:53 utc | 78

Ranch dressing? Is that some kind of cosplay?

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 6 2026 22:59 utc | 79

In my country Rugby is the national sport and I used to be a fan but now I think about the former heroes living with dementia in their 60s, from continual unprotected head injuries, and wonder why it is not a national conversation.

As far as the current football competition is concerned I believe the world needs more bread and less circus.

Posted by: Raumati | Jul 6 2026 23:02 utc | 80

I don’t watch fagball, never have & never will. Who cares how skillful it is when players ponce about flappin limp wrists & whining like 11 yo girls when they fall over. God knows how they would behave if there were scrums and the opposite prop gave ’em the old squirrel grip as they packed down , so that every time they tried goin forwards their testes were at risk of being permanently separated from them. That stuff doesn’t happen much at international level any more but everyone who plays has the scars to show they’ve resisted whatever the opposition tried on as they combined nous, fitness, courage & skill to get the ball to the other end of the paddock and score.
Not in fagball where AI – AI fer gawds sake that scam of money & greedy jews which turns endeavor into farce, runs their magical VAR system that no one, not players, officials or spectators comprehend why the whistle has blown, just that it has and so must be obeyed.
As I unnerstand it players & team officials have been indoctrinated to obey the machine, but amerikan fagball fans think that just like with everything else they are exceptional and ignore rules which everyone had agreed upon before the tournament started. Just that should be enough, if you look at the back page of any englander tabloid you will see that VAR decisions ALWAYS provoke controversy but despite that nothing happens because VAR decisions were in the rules of the game. But no not for amerikans, they carry on like histrionic ballerinas because their team dipped out on a VAR decision. Everyone does that a bit and it is bad enough that the donald did what he did but for all these amerikans to try to drag up all the arguments that are always dragged out after every VAR decision to support trump & infantino’s blatant cheating shows just how fucked up amerikans are when they display such awful sportsmanship.

Posted by: a_user | Jul 6 2026 23:04 utc | 81

I think—half in serious—that a considerable number of people who have been bribed by Zionists, or member of Epstein class have been sent in this ssosiation.

Posted by: Nokaz | Jul 6 2026 23:08 utc | 82

Of course, what we haven’t seen yet is John Helmer’s deeply considered and exclusively sourced opinion on the topic, but somehow, in some way, it will be Putin’s fault…

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jul 6 2026 23:09 utc | 83

57 — “the majority of the world paid no attention to the US rules-based order when . . .”

“This is ME, and that was just somebody else far away.” That is sadly all too human, even when the “me problem” pales in comparison to the problems of others. At least now they are noticing.

Posted by: Mark Thomason | Jul 6 2026 23:17 utc | 84

That explains why fifa nullified Iran score to stop them from getting into round 32 and now this US red card.

Fifa president Faggotini is blowing Trump Phallus Peace Prize a little too hard

Posted by: KillerDoll | Jul 6 2026 23:21 utc | 85

Will national teams yet to play against the usa team now fear that their home countries might be sanctioned if they were to win ? Henceforth they throw the games. ( humor/humour/sarc etc..)

Posted by: Fíréan | Jul 6 2026 23:22 utc | 86

Surely chess is the thinking man’s game.

Last Saturday in a top level rugby league game in the UK a player was knocked out on the pitch. When he regained consciousness he walked off the pitch. If he’d have been a football player there would have been a myriad of people attending to him, he would have been stretchered off and it would have made the back pages of the press.

Posted by: Siddhartha | Jul 6 2026 23:24 utc | 87

Does this mean that the English player who received a red card will have it rescinded?

Posted by: SLM | Jul 6 2026 23:25 utc | 88

This is at least the second high profile ‘rules based’ make it up as you go along during this wc. Plenty others in lead up and during. Including the petty treatment of the Iranian team. Never mind the Argentine team including Messi being fully searched on the tarmac by US customs!

who the fuck do these Yankee noodles think they are?

The empire is fiddling while it burns.
I misquote but you understand i trust.

When the straw breaks the camels back. When the singular event suddenly riles the masses into explosive madness and they are set rioting.

From such simple triggers the whole world moves!

Death to fascism and its works.
Fifa fafo.

The Mutipolar should set up its own World Cup. Immediately in Chinese stadiums. Within a year. Let nations send teams or not.

cultural hegemony must die too. And this is how.

Posted by: DunGroanin | Jul 6 2026 23:28 utc | 89

Traumatized, Rugby isn’t bad about head injuries, it’s less a problem for Rugby than for American Football or Football/Soccer

Posted by: Scottindallas | Jul 6 2026 23:30 utc | 90

Suckers.

Posted by: Figleaf23 | Jul 6 2026 23:31 utc | 91

Don’t you mean coca leaves into cocaine?

Or was that step communist and then the capitalists decided they wanted to smoke the cocaine?

Posted by: Agonizing Reappraisal | Jul 6 2026 20:44 utc | 54

I believe the reference is to this …

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crack_epidemic_in_the_United_States

Relevant quote:

In the early 1980s, cocaine, originating in Colombia and trafficked through The Bahamas, was shipped primarily to Miami for distribution throughout the United States. Increased production led to a glut of cocaine powder, which caused the street price to drop by as much as 80 percent. To protect their profits, drug dealers began turning the powder into “crack”, a solid smokable form of cocaine that was easy to break into small pieces for resale. It was cheap and simple to produce, ready to use, and could be sold at an affordable price for most users.

This is a classic example of the way leftists love to “Blame Capitalism” for everything broken by government action. Drug dealer profits are almost fully driven by the “War on Drugs” which is a government program designed to restrict supply and prevent anyone growing their own. In a real free market prices do fall, you can look at chocolate, sugar, tea and coffee for example which one were sought after luxury goods but now very affordable.

Prohibition inevitably leads to higher concentration products which are easier to smuggle … alcohol prohibition in the USA encouraged more consumption of high proof spirits and discouraged high volume low alcohol beverages such as beer or cider.

Then we could go a step further and point out that the CIA manages and controls the drug trade in South America, as a black budget revenue source to redistribute for political reasons. This is yet another government program, and the fact that one arm of the government works directly at cross purposes with another arm of government is not only unsurprising, it’s actually a feature. You see the purpose of every government program is really to keep the program going and siphon through as much tax money as possible. If the “War on Drugs” eats up resources throttling supply, while the CIA simultaneously eats up resources covertly maintaining that supply … both government programs have a secure funding future. If the problem ever went away, they would all need to find real jobs.

Posted by: Tel | Jul 6 2026 23:43 utc | 92

J R-S@ 64:
And in Ireland we used to add – Gaelic football is a game played for ruffians by ruffians.

Posted by: SLM | Jul 6 2026 23:59 utc | 93

Let’s see them have a go at the Wall game ! ( B3022). Any injuries -head or other – sustained havent prevented past participants from engaging in successful careers in the Commons or House of Lords.

Posted by: Fíréan | Jul 6 2026 23:59 utc | 94

Posted by: Tel | Jul 6 2026 23:43 utc | 92
Isn’t that neat? I was trying to work alcohol in there but only came up with the miracle of turning beer into Steele Reserve.

Now back to being distracted by Trump ruining another institution that was just fine until Trump spoiled it.

Posted by: Duck n cover | Jul 7 2026 0:02 utc | 95

Ol’Yankee’s are losing against Belgium. 0:1 – Good riddance.

Trump tard may ask the score to be corrected, he knows ‘sports really well, very well’ what a fucking baffoon.

Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Jul 7 2026 0:14 utc | 96

Surely chess is the thinking man’s game.

Posted by: Siddhartha | Jul 6 2026 23:24 utc | 87

Weirdly, there are people who classify chess as a sport.

Posted by: malenkov | Jul 7 2026 0:17 utc | 97

Trump tard may ask the score to be corrected, he knows ‘sports really well, very well’ what a fucking baffoon.
Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Jul 7 2026 0:14 utc | 96

Well, he was a great athlete himself, really, really wonderful, would have had a beautiful, such a nice, beautiful career in professional sports, if not for those unfortunate, really, really painful, bone spurs in his hand .. err .. foot …big bone spurs, really, really big ones.

Posted by: The Owl | Jul 7 2026 0:25 utc | 98

I watched a little bit of one match. My impression was the the referee-ing was really poor – lots of fouls not called, which leads to more fouls in retribution. Wether this was a foul I cannot say – dends, there are lots of fouls not called so in that context, what is a foul? Regardless, I dont recall that it is a thing for a nations President calls FIFA and has a ruling changed. Trump has no self-control and these corrupt bureaucrats cater to him.

Posted by: jared | Jul 7 2026 0:30 utc | 99

It‘s al over the news now, so some seen to care.

Posted by: fyi | Jul 7 2026 0:35 utc | 100

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