05 Jul 2026 19:22:27
Wow, FIFA are in no corrupt and being influenced by Trump are they?
Balogun's red card suspension, suspended for 12 months.
WTAF??
05 Jul 2026 19:33:53
Honestly, after the Paraguay team being granted carte blanche to kick on of the main threats to either a Portugal v Argentina final or a USA final, I didn't expect anything less.
FIFA is the most openly corrupt institution on the planet.
It wasn't simply Blatter, Platini or Warner. Not corrupt individuals. It is the entire network. It starts with bribery and favours and escalates.
What a shameful and embarrassing advert for the beautiful game.
05 Jul 2026 19:38:03
Whilst it's definitely corruption that's seen this occur, have you seen the red card itself? It is never a red card. It's not even a yellow. It was a really unfortunate accident. He wasn't looking at his opponent at all, he was just trying to plant his foot back behind him to brace for being challenged as the ball came into him.
Desperately unlucky for both players, but although corrupt, I feel justice has been done. If I got a red card for that on a Sunday I'd be livid. At some point we have to remember that it is a contact sport.
05 Jul 2026 19:42:05
Marco Rubio and Trump being very vocal about it. They don't even try to hide the corruption. Just when I thought the hate for FIFA, Infantino and USA couldn't get bigger and they pull off this ...
05 Jul 2026 19:44:46
After Luis Diaz scoring a goal, miles onside, VAR agreeing it was a goal, doesn't count on the scoreboard, and the game isn't stopped.
Nothing shocks me anymore. Nothing.
05 Jul 2026 19:52:32
Well said, MKS. I agree.
05 Jul 2026 20:53:24
We've seen far worse red cards not get rescinded. This might be the most corrupt World Cup of all time.
05 Jul 2026 20:55:15
I didn't think it was a red at the game. However, FIFA suspending the red for 12 months rather than rescinding it after an appeal means they think it still is a red.
It's disgustingly corrupt, but not unexpected.
So, what happens now if another player gets a red? Do they get theirs rescinded? What happens to the Mexican defender who got a red? Can he play now too?
I know sport is not fair like it should be, and certainly not a level playing field, but it needs to be called out when it's seen.
05 Jul 2026 21:11:18
It is irrelevant whether the tackle was unfairly red-carded. The card was given and there are no rules to review and overturn it. If it had been a Belgian player who had been red-carded in similar circumstances, do you think he would be playing against USA? Not a chance. Trump has pressurised Infantini into this, and he hasn't got the balls to stand up to him.
Football supporters all around the world need to protest to get Infantini out. He has twice sold the soul of football. First with the FIFA Peace Prize given to Trump, and now this. Shameful. I thought it would be difficult for FIFA to get anyone more corrupt than Blatter, but they have excelled themselves with Infantini.
05 Jul 2026 21:00:34
Apparently FIFA renyt a whole floor in trump tower and don't use it its the easy way to bribe trump
05 Jul 2026 21:06:52
MKS and any others believing justice has been done need to look at themselves and what really is going on.
05 Jul 2026 22:09:18
They said on the TV there's no appeal process in the World Cup, so FIFA have come up with this bizarre workaround. Problem is, they don't seem answerable to anyone unless it's a legal issue.
05 Jul 2026 22:10:17
Didn't Ronaldo get sent off against Ireland in the qualifiers and get a 2 game ban which was deferred? So 1 rule for some and a different one for the rest.
05 Jul 2026 22:14:30
I think it was a red, to be honest. A few more pounds of pressure and we'd be talking about broken ankles. It's reckless and dangerous, in my opinion.
The Belgian FA have made a statement about the red card. They are not happy, and it reads as follows:
"The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA-Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time)."
"FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction."
"However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup."
"Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, as set out in Article 10.5:
"If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match.
In addition, further sanctions may be imposed."
"The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026."
"The same rule is reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting prior to each match and is included in all FIFA World Cup 2026 workshop presentations.
"In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options."
05 Jul 2026 22:57:23
Kimos2, I'm not denying it's an awful decision to suspend the red card ban. It's blatant corruption. I'm just saying that for me it was never a red card in the first place. If that's a red card, the game is well and truly gone on the pitch. However, if Presidents can now bribe/threaten FIFA into suspending red card bans, maybe the game is already gone off the pitch.
The whole thing is an embarrassing mess and I've decided to boycott the rest of the World Cup because it's clearly as much of a corrupt mess as the AFCON. International football needs to hang its head.
05 Jul 2026 23:02:21
It was an unfortunate red, but there has never been any mechanism for red cards to be rescinded during a World Cup. But now it happens for a US player after angry comments by the Trump administration.
We really should not be surprised. The hosting of the World Cup has previously been given to a Mexican junta twice, an Argentinian junta once, Putin, Qatar etc.
Countries should show some metal and leave FIFA.
06 Jul 2026 00:10:26
As much as I loathe the corruption in FIFA, I'm a bit indifferent to the false moral outrage about Paraguay, personally kind of enjoyed the s***housery and the fact they gave France a kicking.
06 Jul 2026 10:20:15
Desiered, yup, FIFA used their discretion to suspend 2 of the remaining 3-game suspension CR7 received for an elbow to the head, lol.
Justice pays, aye.
06 Jul 2026 11:14:05
The red card wasn't rescinded, so it was a red card; whatever you think.
The ban was suspended without explanation.
It's corruption.
06 Jul 2026 11:50:11
"I feel justice has been done. If I got a red card for that on a Sunday I'd be livid."
Mks, justice can never be done where blatant cheating & corruption were the remedies.
Sorry, but you've had a 'mare on this one, mate. Just saying.