FIFA Corruption Thread

[Exiled_red]

This Balogun thing absolutely stinks and makes a mockery of the whole game and tournament rules. You can make any argument about whether it should or shouldn't have been a red, but that is irrelevant, other players in previous WCs have had harsh red cards and still had to serve the suspension. If they wanted to overturn this they needed to have a cast iron reason and an argument that there was something truly unique about this situation and explain what it was and why it was made. The word coming out about Trump or the Whitehouse contacting FIFA and Infantino's relationship with Trump (the Peace prize etc) makes it look like he has bowed to political pressure which is something FIFA shouldn't do.

Infantino is the worst FIFA president ever, which given the previous ones is quite an achievement

[Kenneth]

And it was a valid red.

[Yozza]

Sepp Blatter talking about sporting integrity....

[Buzzo]

Pretty punchy statement from UEFA.

Civil War?

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.

When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.

Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.

We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.

[SB]

British Prime Minister should be on the phone demanding Bellingham’s yellow card be rescinded so he can play next match

[The_weatherman]

Unbelievably stupid from FIFA, USA and the White House. I'm all aboard the Belgian train now, hope they thump the USA.

[Exiled_red]

British Prime Minister should be on the phone demanding Bellingham’s yellow card be rescinded so he can play next match

Bellingham isn't suspended, cards are wiped after group stage, if he gets a yellow against Norway (and England get through) he would miss the semi final though.

[vlahka]

This post did not age well

[badpiggy]

The world cup and the USMNT is just another giant ****in diaper, filled with Trump's fetid waste. He like a ****in demented diarrhoea-spraying orange skunk. There are really no words that can truly get this man's awfulness across. There's no rock bottom.

[Buzzo]

The FA are considering asking FIFA to overturn Quansahs card. It was an absolute stick on Red - there’s no case whatsoever, other than the corruption of the Balagun card.

What a farce.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz0jjz830g3o

[SB]

Bellingham isn't suspended, cards are wiped after group stage, if he gets a yellow against Norway (and England get through) he would miss the semi final though.

Oh ok the commentator we had said he’d miss the next match. Good news

[Exiled_red]

The FA are considering asking FIFA to overturn Quansahs card. It was an absolute stick on Red - there’s no case whatsoever, other than the corruption of the Balagun card.

What a farce.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/cz0jjz830g3o

Given that FIFA haven't given a reason for their decision I think every team can feel that it's worth their while appealing because no one knows the rules anymore. If it wastes a load of FIFA time, tough **** they brought this on themselves.

[SB]

So long to the US of A. It’s not the players or the fans fault but that decision to overturn the red card had the majority of football fans supporting Belgium.

[Myo]

It's been farcical for awhile now, even now more so during the WORLD CUP where a billion eyes are on it, surely this is bordering on slight shades of Oly Berlin '36 and cronyism within certain inner cycles? How on earth is this even real? Absolute mockery in terms of values and integrity to the world game.

[Cerbie]

Quansah has been handed a 2 match ban FFS! He was high and studs up but his leg bounces off the ball and then into the player who is in the air. Red was the right decision, a one match ban would have been fine.

Balogun was nowhere near the ball, dragged his studs down his Achilles and then almost snaps his ankle. Plays the next game - WTF. FIFA are just making **** up again.