Why you aren't watching the world cup

[trappedslider]

Let’s be clear: Trump’s ego demands that winning is all that matters, cheating is irrelevant (in fact, you’re a sucker if you don’t cheat), consequences be damned. And now we are seeing that directly imposed onto the World Cup. It’s a travesty, a mockery.

Would that have also applied to Tancredo Neves?

 

[Clint_L]

Would that have also applied to Tancredo Neves?

"But what about 65 years ago, when red card appeals were still allowed...." And it probably does apply to that guy, for all I know. But the President of Brazil in 1960 is not exactly the President of the United States, hosting the tournament in 2026 after being given a special prize to make sure his giant ego feels super awesome.

Here's a more relevant "but what about": But what about every other red card issued this World Cup?

Defend what happened on its own merits, or admit that it was wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Mod Note:

As trappedslider accurately points out, Trump is not the first politician who has pressured FIFA to reconsider and ultimately change enforcement of an issued red card, even in a World Cup. Nor, in all probability, will he be the last.

That’s probably as far down that political discussion road as we need to go.

 

[Marc Radle]

Very good article over at ESPN
Two things can be true about Balogun's World Cup reprieve

 

[Clint_L]

Very good article over at ESPN
Two things can be true about Balogun's World Cup reprieve

And the article right below it (same URL):

Nobody benefits from FIFA letting Balogun off the hook -- not even the USMNT​

The key point is this: "Since the introduction of yellow and red cards at the 1970 edition, no player has ever received a red card and gone on to play in his team's next match at the FIFA World Cup." None. Zero. And believe me, plenty of those red cards were as or more controversial than this one.

 

[Marc Radle]

And the article right below it (same URL):

Nobody benefits from FIFA letting Balogun off the hook -- not even the USMNT​

The key point is this: "Since the introduction of yellow and red cards at the 1970 edition, no player has ever received a red card and gone on to play in his team's next match at the FIFA World Cup." None. Zero. And believe me, plenty of those red cards were as or more controversial than this one.

Oh, I agree! This helps no one.
If anything, it just made an already bad situation much worse

 

[VashVet]

(Waves hands at the stuff that you’re not supposed to talk about if only the people who you’re not supposed to talk about would keep to their own business.)

That. That stuff right there is why I’m not watching the World Cup.

 

[GreyLord]

Very good article over at ESPN
Two things can be true about Balogun's World Cup reprieve

If we were playing the US, I would want the best the US could toss at us. I would want to show the US that they are fallible, and if we lose...we lose. If we win though, the US can't say that we won because they couldn't field their best.

Seeing the play in full speed, I feel the Red Card was valid. It doesn't have to be intentional to be a Red Card, but it can be due to a very possible chance of injury. Those spikes were too high, the step on the ankle had too much weight, accident or not, that's bad.

I'd laugh though, if the Balogun plays against Belgium, then the Belgium appeal goes through and they suspend him for a game right before the next one. It would be irony for him to play one but be out for the harder game.

That said, I feel Messi did something very similar and should have gotten a Red Card and gotten a pass. Does that mean Argentina will be tainted if they win again? Ronaldo got a three game suspension, and two of those games are in the same limbo at this point. Does that mean all of Portugal is tainted.

There are others that were pretty bad as well. The problem isn't necessarily the Red Card, but the uneven refs and how biased they seem at times vs. certain teams, both for and against. Argentina has gotten some pretty massive passes from the refs, and it's not just Messi.

If anything, people should be outraged by how much the Refs are ignoring some really bad things Argentina is doing.

On the otherhand, Belgium has not really had a ref in their favor (from what I've seen), I can see why they would be really concerned if it appears refs may favor the other team.

 

[trappedslider]

I'd laugh though, if the Balogun plays against Belgium, then the Belgium appeal goes through and they suspend him for a game right before the next one. It would be irony for him to play one but be out for the harder game.

FIFA denies Belgium’s appeal after reversing red card against Balogun

FIFA has tossed out an appeal filed by the Belgian soccer federation after it reversed a red card against American striker Folarin Balogun ahead of the country’s clash with the United States …

thehill.com

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

As an American watching the game right now:

OOPS!