Casual sports observers often wonder why the sport of Soccer has never been successful in the United States. This story is a big picture example of exactly why.
The country of Belgium is filing an appeal with FIFA World Cup organizers to stop the United States from playing the game of soccer with their best players. You just cannot make this stuff up, folks.
Only in the sport of EU soccer can a bureaucratic agency file a parliamentary objection with the intent to force the official bureaucratic agents of the soccer administration, FIFA, to block a team from fielding their best players – because the business of the bureaucracy is more important than sportsmanship.
SEATTLE (AP) — The Belgian soccer federation is demanding explanation from FIFA about a decision to let U.S forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup despite getting a red card in his previous game.
Belgium takes on the United States later Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Belgian federation said it has still not received either “FIFA’s decision or any explanation regarding this matter. In these circumstances, it has no choice but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.” {LINK}
Here comes the really funny part. All the soccer nations continue to be befuddled why soccer has never made progress within the American sport psyche. Think about it.
Soccer is a ‘sport system’ bureaucratically designed to fail when contrast to a brutally honest American perspective on sport.
Soccer succeeding in America is the inverse to Liberty succeeding worldwide.
Soccer is the United Nations of sports.
If soccer is ever to succeed in America, the United States is lost forever!
I was 12 years old in 1972 when the USA basketball team was cheated out of the gold medal against the USSR by the Communist referees. Watched it happen in real time on ABC.
That game was rigged worse than the 2020 election.
At that young age I just couldn’t understand how that kind of shameless, unapologetic cheating could be allowed. My Dad brilliantly explained it to me:
“The Communists hate our country and our way of life. They will not allow us to win this game. Don’t ever forget that.”
Things are no different today in 2026, except that I’m way older. The international globalist cabal will do whatever it takes to cheat the United States. They are seriously ticked that millions of people from across the globe have come here for the games and fallen in love with our nation and our people. That cannot be allowed to stand.
So Belgium has been given the task of spearheading the globalist screwing of the USA soccer team.
The names have changed and I’m not 12 anymore, but it sure feels like 1972.
I trust that President Trump will loudly “insist” that the rest of the world “pay attention to this matter.”
Well Belgium wasn’t up to the task.
Their appeal has been rejected.
https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15956615/belgium-folarin-balogun-appeal-fifa-usa.html
Betsy, it’s because the Belgians are focused on what TDS sufferers here are focused on- Trump. They ignored that Messi, in a game the same day as the US team got red carded, carried out the same foul, which was also not called a foul in the game (similar to the US game), however, FIFA decided to call in a VARS review of the US team’s situation, but that did not happen with Messi and team Argentina.
Videos of these two incidents were shared side by side on X and viewed by millions and millions of people, where 90% were calling out FIFA’s duplicity in how they required a VARS review for the US player but not for Messi.
Just like the incidents in the UK/Ireland/France, I think X was the driving factor, not Trump. X is exposing corruption, hypocrisy, and other BS that would normally be buried.
Trump is just TDS fodder for TDS sufferers and now going after FIFA- FIFA doesn’t need Trump attached for people to realize they are corrupt.
So correct, Horse.
No vaxxxine available for the deadly TDS.
And that’s a shame for these Euro nations which swallow whole what is being fed to them by their “jailers”.
Yes, they’ve been caught out on X which these Euro “elites” are working overtime to censor, if not outright ban.
Remembering that Belgium is further along than many by their transformation into a Euro Caliphate.
Three worthy Belgian exports that off the top of my head I can think of…
Hercules Poirot
Chocolates (Yum!!)
Mark Steyn, whose mother is Belgian
If only they could import the fierce patriotism of Donald J Trump to inoculate themselves against the tyranny which has consumed them. As I posted yesterday, perhaps there is a chance as hundreds of thousands of Europeans who have experienced the glorious advantages of living in/visiting Trump’s America (the real one, not the terrible spectre which they’ve been told is the reality) return to their respective nations.
The lights are going out, one by one, all over Europe…again. For the sake of Western/Christian civilization I hope these visitors will be unpacking uncountable sparks of hope and resolve when they get home. To reclaim their birthrights and their countries from the life extinguishing evil which is the EU.
A tragedy of indescribable depth.
Walk a mile in the Belgium team’s shoes with this what if comparison. What if America was in the Olympic basketball medal hunt and their next opponent had a player who received a technical violation with a resultant suspension and the politically influenced Olympic committee overrode it. Imagine American basketball team was forced to face a suspended Wemby or Djokovic. The screams of indignation from the media et al would be heard around the world. What is good for the goose is good for the gander huh?
If Balogan scores the Belgians might/will sue infantino for bribery.
Well…..not exactly.
From ESPN:
“FIFA has ruled a request from the Belgium soccer federation for an explanation of Folarin Balogun’s suspended red card as ‘inadmissible,’ meaning it has no grounds to appeal the decision and the United States forward remains cleared to play against Belgium in Monday’s World Cup round-of-16 match.”
The Royal Belgian Football Association announced that, because they haven’t received all of the paperwork related to FIFA’s decision, they have informed the United States Soccer Federation that they will contest the American player’s eligibility and that “this leaves all further actions open.”
This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. Expect further EuroTrash shenanigans tonight to force the American player not to play.
I’ve seen this movie before. It ain’t over till it’s over.
Belgium got the Deep State treatment from Fifa… The politicized Fifa mob is comparable to the superior court of the District of Columbia.. Justice be damned huh?
Belgium’s indignation went off the scale even further when a Fifa committee ruled their protest “inadmissible” because they were NOT a party to the original decision.
https://www.the-sun.com/sport/16645502/
It’s the same cabal … different names. Nothing has changed
So what’s next being subjected to a world cricket tournament?
It would make a great sedative. A very slow moving game, great for a lazy summer day.
Yep! For folks who think baseball is too slow, I give you cricket.
Competitive crocheting.
Patterns limited to the chain stitch.
Do trans compete in the mens or women’s divisions?
No, which shouldn’t be surprising because they never could.
That’s why they are trans.
More likely Mahjong
FIFA dismisses Belgium appeal over decision on USA’s Folarin BalogunBalogun is available to play Monday night against Belgium
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/fifa-dismisses-belgium-appeal-over-decision-usas-folarin-balogun
FIFA rejected Belgium’s appeal…which is no surprise to me or Michael Palin as Belgium has little appeal to either of us.
<FIFA rejected Belgium’s appeal…>
I was afraid they would waffle 🙂
I heard they took frite.
That’s pretty good, Frosty
You have no shame…….great for a laugh……
Is that a compliment or a dig? 🙂
Or too sauced with fruit.
Thanks for really good chuckle, WORDMAN! That gotta be up in your top five “witties”.
When is it over….??? jeeez..
Not soon enough.
Belgium can’t even decide if they are Flemish or French. Zut alors!
Tracing my own lineage back to the 1100’s to a chap named Levin of Flanders in return to service to the Scottish, does this mean I am Scotch, Belgian and/or Jewish? I am kind of WASP right now. Do I now root for both sides today?
Ahem. Scotch can be whisky, beef, broth, mist (or an egg if you’re a Sassenach like me – don’t judge 🤣).
You might be Scottish though. Or even part Walloon. 😨 😉
You’re in great company for the Stewart/Stuart dynasty (forbears of the Hanoverian Windsors) also started as Scottish mercenaries from Northern Europe. The Breton Alan fitz Flaad’s younger son, Walter fitz Alan (d1177), was Steward to Scottish monarch, David I around same time as your ancestor.
Walter fitz Alan, my 21st great-grandfather.
I am a Flemish Belgian by birth. But root for bmy country that gave me the best life ever. ❤️
(I do speak French too).
World Cup soccer or football is anything but boring. It is the biggest sport on planet earth and it unites regular people. It is a glorious sport of stamina, grit and athleticism.
Anyone belittling the sport itself is ignorant to the game and the players. This World Cup has brought the best matches ever, two of them were played yesterday.
The bureaucracy of FIFA is no different than that of NFL, NBA, MBL, or any team sport in this country. It is filled with people who want to control.
I hope this US team today plays a brilliant match, no matter outcome. They have represented our country with perseverance, skill, and good sportsmanship while being a unified team with a wonderful coach. May the USMNT play a match they will forever be proud of.
Bigger Teams than ours have already left the quest for the Cup.
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
Unlike NFL one doesn’t have to weigh 200lbs or more and wear a suit of armor to play.
All you need is a ball.
I have always been impressed how they can barely run into each other and then spend minutes on the ground acting as if they have broken bones or been shot, only to stand up smiling after the other team is called for a penalty.
Not every player is Neymar…
My kid played more than once in 35 mph winds and sleet for a full 90 minutes, in shorts, at 5 feet tall and weighing 70 lbs. The fields the younger kids get are often rocky, muddy and full of mole holes. I have seen the ball kicked into the air and come down and not even bounce as it landed in mud. I watched as my kid landed in that same mud.
Neither of my kids were ever big enough for football. My older ran a mile in under 5 minutes, the younger chose soccer instead. We expected them to get excellent grades, they did, and they chose the sports they liked.
Take-a-dive drills are a big part of their training, along with running around in circles all over the middle of the field.
Plus great lungs & legs.
It’s the minimal equipment that makes soccer — also known as kicksie footsie ball — so popular, especially in poorer nations.
Your opinion and it is not shared by a significant portion of the posters on this thread. Never try to convince an American to like something…….we either like something or not. Its a free country and I am glad for you that you like soccer but don’t try to sell it.
It was and is a prominent sport in public schools in SoCal. But that’s where it pretty much ends… it’s a scholastic distraction.
I never even realized there was a soccer team at my high school. As an adult I I moved my kids to a rural area and that’s the big sport. No football. My granddaughter has been offered full scholarships to colleges to play. She’s going with track and field instead!
Didn’t start it at my high school until the year after I graduated. (Mid 70s).
But them trying to get rid of our best players brings back some memories. In my
own neighborhood. We had a swimming pool that had assuredly seen better days.
Shingles peeling off the roof of the bathrooms, cement deck cracked, rusty chain
link around the baby pool.
And, we had the strongest swim team in the county. Which drove the people in
way affluent neighborhoods near Northlake Mall and Emory insane. Ritzy pools
that were immaculate, still had high dives in some cases. So…. our biggest competitors
wrote our club up for any and all infractions. The swim coach cursing, spitting on the
sidewalk outside the pool. And looked for ways to demonize our strongest swimmer.
Naturally, them having all the money and prestige worked. Our coach got fined,
written up, our best swimmer got banned from the finals. But, in the end, we got
even. The “ghetto pool” that they were embarassed to be losing to won. Big.
As in the entire county. And closed down for five years afterwards. Haven’t had a
swim team for over 20 years, but the old time residents still like to have a laugh
on how we put it over “Those rich assholes”. ( The elderly lady that used those
words never cusses).
I sure hope you’re not suggesting we adopt group-think. When I started reading this site more than a decade ago, I found value in the differences of opinions expressed in the chats.
Your assertion that “we either like something or not” runs counter to the community here, by stifling opportunities to learn about something new . Some readers are likely much less familiar with how international Soccer operates.
Adopt group think?
Not my msg, your misinterpretation.
Do you like being told you’re ignorant and you should like something? I don’t! Go back and re-read what I was responding to.
In general anytime anyone tries to convince anyone else what they should like or dislike they come across as either a salesman or a Karen….besides you cannot convince someone to like something they don’t…..try it and see.
If you’ve been around CTH as long as you say then you know I (monti aka Monticello) adhere to facts and sometimes uncomfortable facts.
Discuss soccer it’s a free country and a free speech blog…but it bores the hades out of me.
Why can’t he sell it? We got golf shoved down our throats during the Tiger Woods years and that, if it even is a sports is as boring as watching paint dry.
Chuckle. Nightshift why did you watch something you did not like?
Golf and baseball fun to play….dreary to watch most of the time….just my opinion but I am my own buyer and it’s a no sale on all pro sports and especially soccer.
In the US only 25% even cared US team was in play on 25 June.
Even with our national pride that shows how much interest in soccer in the USA
OK, I’m ignorant. Please tell us what is exciting about a sport where barely a bump gets you a penalty, scoring is abysmally low, the surface is nice and soft, there are no sticks whacking each other, and there are no incidents from sharp steel blades or massive muscled men that can cause harm? For petes sake, the net is the largest target in sports and the most skilled toe tickling futboler still can’t get the ball in the net.
Everyone has their favorite sport but as in other European favorites like afternoon tea and cricket, it’s just not for me. As far as the ignorance, nothing you can provide will make me want to watch.
Although it is low scoring, I find that many of the most exciting matches are those end with 1-0 or even a draw.
While the recognizable/standout players are often ingenious strikers and incredible goalies, the beauty of soccer is that it is quintessentially a team sport. For ninety minutes, eleven players with disparate skills and abilities, offensive and defensively move the ball across and down the field. Except for runaway goals, the player who assists the score is recognized for it is acknowledged that the moments leading up to the goal are just as important.
What’s the matter, you don’t enjoy the trill of watching a 90-minute match end in a scoreless tie?
Someone once said, “A scoreless tie is like kissing one’s sister”. In today’s world, that’s still sick, but I get the point.
I for one agree with you. Only sport I’ll watch.
I spent many years as a youth travel team manager gaining both an understanding & appreciation for the game.
People who have never played do not grasp the athletic ability & endurance required.
Reality check: Go try & juggle a ball (feet & knees only)… get back to me when you make it past 1000 consecutively w/o it touching the ground. Most won’t get past 3-5.
Required for the most competitive youth teams. My oldest son could- NOT me lol.
I think it does the world populous good in promoting some national pride for their respective country- & the opposite of the globalist agenda. We need a lot more nationalism.
I DO understand that it is huge outside of the USA and takes skill and endurance. Still don’t care. Will not ever care.
Reality check: Go try & juggle a ball (feet & knees only)… get back to me when you make it past 1000 consecutively w/o it touching the ground. Most won’t get past 3-5.
Reality check: Sure, it’s a skill but so is mechanical engineering designing amazing products that benefit the world. Unfortunately nobody wants to watch engineering design either.
Maybe they should spend less time practicing their juggling and a little more time practicing how to kick the ball in the net.
That “header” stuff is unnatural.
I am not a soccer fan; however, I agree that the World Cup is fun to watch, and I enjoy it immensely. I also like making fun of those players who flail and act like their heads were cut off for minor things. Not saying some of those things don’t hurt, but I am saying their overreactions are hilarious and bad acting.
My sons all played football, the American kind, and lacrosse. Both physical sports. I always used to tell them as kids- Soccer is for two types of people, without a distinction- girls and Europeans. But as I mentioned already, I enjoy the World Cup, just as I do the World Baseball Classic. It’s a national pride thing, and they really are good athletes, albeit wimps at times.
I, having played soccer years ago, wouldn’t attend a FIFA World Cup event if it were occurring across the road. To even begin to compare it with the NFL is what I call ignorant. Keep soccer away from the U.S.
Laid up with a broken leg, I have been watching a lot of soccer. I now finally get i too. It demands 1000% more skills than American football. But too bad one of them is also being a drama queen on the field to get the referee’s attention..
The Bosnia victim of the US red card “stomp”, writhed around camera for a few minutes but still finished the game. For a red card, he should have been carried off the field in a stretcher at minimum.
Didn’t they use skulls years ago until someone invented the ball?
I asked this same thing: I have no idea how apocryphal this might be, but I recall reading that this sport originated either by the Mayans or Aztecs kicking severed heads around as a game???
that or various stuffed animal stomachs
Soccer. Hmmm. There were a few years during the NASL days when it started to intrigue me. I was a kid, the Ft Lauderdale Strikers were local, Nene Cubillas was an international star who moved in next door to me, was friendly, a rivalry with cross-state Tampa Bay Rowdies developed, it was kinda fun to see on the periphery of my sportsball fascination.
But NASL dissolved, it became youth group sports thing that pushed aside youth football leagues. Never really cared much about it ever since.
The iconic “Goalllllllll” calls became a pop culture reference. And they made a good point when they said American football was misnamed, the ball rarely is touched by feet, they win that argument. And that’s the extent of my care or concern for futbol my entire life.
All that said, it is funny to see the pearl clutching about Trump and the red card. Just like they hate America and work daily to weaken and destroy our nation they are passive aggressively cheering for the team to lose, or be blighted as winners because of Trump.
https://www.mediaite.com/media/wapo-journo-warns-on-ms-now-trump-calling-fifa-will-sabotage-team-usa-winning-world-cup/
I say F ’em in the A running backwards. Though a great many haters will read that and think, “Oooooohh! Sounds fun!”
I’m not trying to be argumentative just trying to understand. Didn’t P resident Trump call the head of FIFA over the red card call and ask him to see what he could do? Or is this not true? If it is true, what’s the difference?
PDJT only asked for a review.
Like with Raffensperger in 2020.
Yup. And it turns out he was right.
Yep, another perfect phone call.
He asked that it (red card call) be reviewed.
Multiple incidents in the game seemed at least as controversial (if not more so) and no “red card”.
No different than a coach in the NFL throwing the “red flag” over a critical call by the refs. Throwing the flag simply allows for independent review.
It’s then left to those deemed most able to impartiality determine, if in fact, the call on the field of play was warranted.
FIFA, in this instance, is the “deemed most able to impartiality determine” party.
President Trump (the US having standing) simply threw the “red flag” on behalf of the US team.
FIFA was asked to independently review.
They did so.
Belgium’s appeal (no standing) was dismissed.
Fin
I read this ref has a history of making terrible calls at critical moments to ensure his team wins. Blatant stuff–so Trump requested a review.
The response I understood is that while reviewing the playback it was in slow motion which is against the rules and is never done. I think it was tried to cheat by issuing a red card (no yellow) to see if it would work but having PDT ask for review brought light to the play and back off ensued.
https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15956615/belgium-folarin-balogun-appeal-fifa-usa.html
Belgium’s appeal rejected.
I have said for decades that Soccer is a Socialist sport!
I have told this story before: some years ago I remarked in passing to my 7th Grade Latin class (Roman sports were the topic in our translation) that to play soccer correctly, one needed a college degree in Theater!
They laughed, understanding the joke immediately! 🙂
“Casual sports observers often wonder why the sport of Soccer has never been successful in the United States. This story is a big picture example of exactly why.”
There is also the boring low score aspect. Why do people sit and watch players running around without scoring. At least our Hockey has checking, sharp blades, and a really hard surface to fall on if they can’t score.
Not so much low scoring as low shots on target (goal) aspect. Hockey games are usually low scoring, but the goalies average ~25 saves per game which is on par with the average shots on goal ( https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/stats.html )
As it stands now, France is leading with an average shots on target of 7.8 ( https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/leagues/77/stats/season/24254/teams/ontarget_scoring_att_team/world-cup-teams ).
I’ve told some of my soccer fan friends they need to shrink the field a bit (it’s larger than an NFL football field) to increase the shots on goal. I usually get blank stares.
Really great observation!
Indoor soccer has smaller teams, smaller fields with walls keeping the ball in play longer yet the scoring isn’t markedly higher.
How many shots on goal?
There may be a way to make soccer more interesting and fair. This suggestion will solve two of the main problems I notice in the game. (using penalty kicks at the end of a tied match to decide who wins and flopping). What may be an easy solution is to put some type of small rfid tag inside of every player’s jersey. Then, when there is any penalty, a ref can scan the player with some type of laser gun. This would keep the game moving and reduce the flopping. At the end of a match, if the score is tied, whoever has the least amount of penalties wins. Problem solved.
Only high stakes tournament matches require shoot outs. Regular season play can end with a draw.
LOL…..yes soccer is strange rules…..odd little game……..then I saw Rugby…….now that is sort of like drunken football…..lol
I got one son that dearly loves soccer …his twin thinks it`s stupid.
Next up: lawn hockey?
lol
Yard darts.
After my grandparents passed away, I was allowed to keep a few of Grandpa’s books, his fishing pole, and the lawn darts. The plastic is now brittle, but they are lovingly stored away.
As I read daily and admire Sundance and Treepers I hesitate to risk my thoughts but I’ve promised to fight for liberty of my speech and thinking even among those I admire. Imo the World Cup is the best thing to happen to the USA in decades (with the exception of Yrump) as it relates to quashing the negative narratives promulgated in EU/Marxist approved narratives. Thousands l, perhaps millions of EU citizens have been shocked at the actual magnificence of US and its people. Many thousands of hours available shop this. I am certain the reality of the American Dream sparked anew in many hearts and many with evil hearts are still gnashing their teeth.
Then how can you not LOVE or at least appreciate Haaglund (sp?) !! Such joy is rare in these days of angst. This old woman has enjoyed this World Cup on countless levels. With respect
I agree. It will be very interesting to see how the European fans, after they enjoyed an air conditioned, friendly and patriotic US summer, react when they return their oppressive anti-nationalist homes.
It’s very disappointing to learn that leftists attacked German Freddy and English Oliver for their genuine awe of America and good experiences with Americans.
Norway’s Haaland is great. He looks like he’s ready for a joke an his joy is easily reflected by those around him.
HA!! 🤣
You beat me…
Good. I hate soccer.
I do love the highlight videos though! And that nobody kneeled. And the spirit shown by the players and fans.
Bureaucracy ruins everything it touches.
The Belgian soccer federation is demanding explanation from FIFA about a decision to let U.S forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup despite getting a red card in his previous game
If I am reading this correctly Folarin Balogun was shown the “Red Card”. Where is the argument from accept those that do not understand the Rules of Football. A Red Card automatically bans the player from playing the rest of the game and depending on the severity of the reasoning for the red card being issued can carry through to a ban for the next 3 games. It all depends on the Referee’s decision, not bureaucrats, EU or otherwise.
Your objection is noted. Pound sand.
++
Here’s the unique, little-known rule that FIFA used to overturn Folarin Balogun red card suspension
http://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/unique-little-known-rule-fifa-used-overturn-folarin-balogun-red-card-suspension.amp
Rubio gives comments…
Exactly. Beating the US with Balogun playing would be a much more satisfactory victory for them.
OK…..my take on this mess 😎
The red card to the US player was NOT initially given by the on field referee. It was done by off field officials reviewing the replay minutes after the incident. WTF.
The red card was NOT deserved. EVERY replay show the US player and the Bosnia player looking up to find the ball coming down; both leaping to get their head on it; colliding; and in tne collision US players foot came down on Bosnia player’s leg. Totally INADVERTENT! Nothing intentional. Should never qualify for a red card. (pretty much everyone interviewed shared this interpretation that U saw).
A red card is NOT appealable. The US DID NOT appeal. However: FIFA for some reason (probably because it was an egregiously bad call, and on a player from the host nation) decided to “suspend” the suspension for a year. AND NO REASON WAS GIVEN.
I can sympathize with Belgium here….FIFA owes them — and everyone really — an explanation for why they took a truly UNPRECEDENTED action here in “suspending enforcement of a red card sanction”.
Translation: a very bad call became embarrassing to the FIFA poohbahs, and being the typical unaccountably bureaucratic myrmidons that they are….they just”made it up” to save face.
Again…I don’t blame Belgium for their appeal to the Poohbahs for an explanation. I really don’t. This mess is all FIFA for allowing after the fact decisions like awarding this red card, and then pretending that they could reverse the decision even though by their own rules a red card is not appealable.
OK….now for my other 2 big beefs about soccer: why the heck doesn’t the ref just stop the clock instead of adding up “stoppage time? Stoppage time is another totally non transparent feature of the game.
And offsides. I hate how it is applied. IMHO, soccer should adopt some form of what ice hockey does, in that once you bring the ball into a section of the field legally, players no longer have to pay attention to making sure that there is at least 2 players between him and the ball.
Rant over 😎
I’ve mentioned this twice previously on page 2 in conversation with others- I think the fact that Messi did the same exact thing as the US player but didn’t invoke a VAR review (both were play-ons during live play) contributed to FIFA suspending the red card. Why? Because just on X, the side-by-side videos have been seen by over 9 million people, with 90+% asking FIFA why it was ok for Messi but not the US player? Why did FIFA call for a VARS for the US player but ignore the Messi one?
Being called out in real time, by 9 million on X (my wife said an Instagram post doing the same side by side is above 10 million views) resulted in FIFA correcting their biased error.
My perspective is different.
When soccer takes over the US, it will become unbeatable. Like Brazil. Then every World Cup the Europeans will dread having to see the US of A winning once again.
What I take from the above incident is the referee tried his best to get the US eliminated by Bosnia. The US played at a disadvantage with 10 men, and scored again, and against all odds (if you saw the game) won! It’s the Team that prayed to God and never gave up. FIFA realized how bad the red card decision was and reversed it. That’s a GOOD thing!
Belgium is scared and that’s why they’re appealing. Think of it as Judge Sparkles crying out loud that despite all her protestations, the WILL of the PEOPLE is still winning…
“When soccer takes over the US, it will become unbeatable.”
I’ve been hearing this same exhausted promise from every colleague who coached in youth leagues for over 40 years.
All their kids did something else the moment they got to college.
That will happen right after the USA converts to the metric system
Cristiano Ronaldo, Folarin Balogun And FIFA Reversing Red-Card Suspension, Explained
Excerpt:
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.
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/cristiano-ronaldo-folarin-balogun-red-card-suspension
Recently, the entire worldwide sports media blasted USA soccer coach for the unpardonable action of running up the score on a Euro team. The coach was forced to resign, and FIFA suspended the USA team for an indeterminate period for the cruel thrashing of the Belgians 1-0.
No malice, no high speed, no use of slow motion replay to determine ‘intent”……. the US red card was wrong on all counts.
Same as last night, the red card against England. None of the required elements were present.
Are we seeing a pattern of FIFA malpractice – US, England …….???
Never cared for the Euroweenie footy-ball thingy. Just sayin’.
Personally, I would rather be fishing.
😂 😂 😂
About the only thing exciting about soccer is the fan fights. If they expanded it to checking on the field, it might be worth watch. A few good fights might make it interesting.
You want to see fan fights – go to an Eagles NFL game when they play bad.
Losers!! Typical Europeans
Let’s ensure its failure and allow our best players to be red carded. Soccer is a great game but not a viewable sport. Watching paint dry is more viewable.
This is just another example of a manufactured narrative to attack the DS bogeyman President Trump, and cover up a real crisis that’s been ignored for years.
Refereeing in Europe is in a crisis. Abuse and violence, on and off the pitch from players and supporters, (including parents in kids leagues) fuelled by social media campaigns of vilification, and constant allegations of corruption have caused a shortage of qualified referees and linesmen. Training to officiate these games requires a great deal of dedication and time and effort and more and more, people are voting with their feet.
VAR was meant to be the solution, but instead of only being used to resolve genuine, critical 50/50 decisions, unseen incidents it is used more and more for basic decisions, which the previous generation of referees would have resolved quickly and effectively.
World Cup games then throw this failing system wide open to officials from nations notoriously corrupt or incompetent, so the system now buckles and increasingly make questionable judgements.
The DS solution, blame Trump and make sure any further success by the US squad is tainted with ‘scandal’ and political interference, whilst encouraging rival teams to adopt LawFare as a response.
highlite reel…………
“Casual sports observers often wonder why the sport of Soccer has never been successful in the United States.”
By what metric do we measure to qualify the term “successful”? I would argue the better term is “popular”. And with that I submit the wholly American term “soccer mom” as evidence to the games popularity in this country. If we were to measure success in financial terms then no, the game does not generate the fan base needed to generate a self sustaining revenue stream. And nor should it. After all, soccer in this country is a game for little girls. Leave the money out of it and let those girls go out and have some fun. Sure, there’s competition amongst teams, and the girls are all the better for it. But lets leave the commercialization and politics out of it. If the European men want to get all excited about a girl’s game then so be it. They have their culture, and we have ours. And ours includes those very American things: apple pie, soccer moms, and don’t forget mom’s mini van for taking the girls to the game.
My SON played club, travel and Varsity soccer. Not sure where just for little girls comes from. My daughter played Varsity through her Sr year, thus she was no longer little.
If balogan scores the belgians will sue infantino for bribery.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/politics/trump-fifa-balogun-world-cup.html
I was employed by a school in the United States that loved soccer. I don’t know how it was imported
to an obscure place in NH, but the coach loved it, and so the kids loved it. In all of schooling I had never
heard of it before. I was a young teacher and played with them….even sponsored a Father/Son game on Father’s Day.
And I learned to love it…especially the teamwork on a fast pitch and the footwork towards the goal. I also loved Pele, the most famous player that I know. Then the school transferred to Alaska, and I went with it. Now we play inside a regulation-size gym at 40 below and outside in the snow when it’s warmer. We play it all summer long, alternating between volleyball and baseball. I love soccer…and those other ones. Basically, I like to play when the sport involves practice, skill, and teamwork. I played competitive tennis, swam, and ran. I won many times, but it is not as interesting as depending on a team, knowing how to win, and being of the same mind because you played with them so often. Kind of like the President and his cabinet at a much higher level, of course. Happy Cheerleader who played all the sports and cheered others on as well. Go USA!
I’m no expert on the rules of soccer, but normally if a player gets a red card, that player has to sit out the next game. I’m not sure why exception is being made for the US player
I’ve taken to calling Third World & Euro countries simply, “soccer countries”.
I cannot stand Belgium…more accurately…those who represent the nation.
We faced this when competing in speech tournaments in Fairbanks as a school.
We were a smaller school, but their coaches were just as good as ours.
However, our team won individually and in group events. We won quite a lot.
The School admin had adopted the sick philosophy that everyone
is a winner (as did Canada) and told the Speech admin to withhold the results of the
tournament. They withheld the results because it “would make the other students feel
bad.” This was the last one we attended in Fairbanks (90 miles away);
we decided to drive 8 hours to Anchorage to compete instead. They announced the results
in Anchorage, and we went until that city became so liberal we were always ruled against
because we would not compromise on content and drop to the gutter to win. Filth was required.
Filth was rejected. Very sad to see it go in this school, at the state and national levels, for us.
So glad FIFA has a spine.
A foul committed by the US player led to the red card which means he is out for that game AND the next.
It’s not like FIFA made this up to punish the US. I started playing 50 years ago here in the US, and it’s been that way everywhere I’ve played – rec leagues, high school, and college.
There was an avenue for appeal, which the US won and the player is reinstated.
Did the original foul warrant a red card? That depends on which side of the argument you’re on.
Did FIFA bend over backwards to please PDJT47? That also depends on which side of the argument you’re on.
To declare that, “Soccer succeeding in America is the inverse to Liberty succeeding worldwide.” is ridiculous. NFL players frequently get penalized and reinstated on appeal. Do those situations pose a dire threat to Liberty? Puhleez.
No matter where your opinions fall on the subject of soccer, it’s hard to argue against kids being active and learning teamwork and discipline.
Edit: What else is happening in the world that we’re being distracted from by this nonsense?
As I understand it, the official did not award a penalty during live play but only after assessing the play using slow motion video playback which is explicitly forbidden by FIFA rules. Video playback for the purpose of review is supposed to be at normal speed. That’s why the organization rescinded the red card, though inexplicably, the player was still placed on a one-year probation during which any red card infractions will resurrect the rescinded penalty, and he’ll face a double punishment.
I think sundance is right, it’s a sport mired in bureaucracy which is not going to appeal to American sensibilities.
Because the NFL replay system and fines assessed by their Star Chamber appeal to American sensibilities.
Just his opinion, but….who knows?
+++
Johnny St.Pete
@JohnMcCloy
🔥🇺🇸 WOWW… YOU CANT UNSEE IT.
OUR UNITED STATES SOCCER TEAM IS NOT FACING BELGIUM TONIGHT… WE ARE FACING THE EU GLOBALISTS.
The HQ of The EU projects its power from Brussels, Belgium.
Watch til the end and you will see President Trump KNEW that a fix may have been in.
What if I told you that I don’t think the RED CARD was bad refereeing? What if I told you BRAZILIAN ref Raphael Claus didn’t make the call on the field initially?
What if I told you it came from the VAR booth where a Venezuelan, Colombian & Frenchman were manning?
What if I told you Claus has been accused of ISSUING IRREGULAR RED CARDS AND MATCH FIXING in Brazil?
He was cleared 🤪
What if told you he not only made the call after THE BOOTH requested it (provided insulation from accusation) but that it was so OVERTLY an accidental tangle up that he went AGAINST RULES to use slow mo make his call?
Cont….
This is where so many people here and the “right” are so ignorant about the sport and and can’t help themselves looking at it from a political perspective instead of a sporting one. The American player received a red card. Was it justified? Maybe yes maybe no. But it’s not the first time in history a questionable suspension has occurred and won’t be the last. This US team is realistically not good enough to win the tournament, so when people see the alleged story of political interference they suspect rigging and when a sport gets rigged, it will die. As an American, what makes you feel better? Winning because of off field interference when you’re not good enough or something like the 1980 Olympic hockey team that didn’t need “extra” help.
I listened to Jason Whitlock describe soccer as “the tampon of sports”.
I can see Tampon Tim waltzing around in is soccer duds. Remember Tim – jazz hands are illegal.
How many billions of $$ has the World Cup brought in? Probably a billion just in beer in Boston 😂
Soccer is nothing more than a glorified keep-away performance.
When the highlight reel consists of missed scores, fake injury acts, and refs handing out penalties, you’re not watching a real sport.
No wonder the fans riot in the stands. They’re bored and desperate for something, anything, to happen.
to be honestly fair US sports are more DEI than competition these days…definitely not any better.
I’m not a sports fan of any kind but one thing about soccer is that it’s a sport that anyone can play and possibly excel at with an average physique, hence its popularity. Let’s face it, with very few exceptions you have to be a mutant, way out on the edge of the bell curve in terms of size, to be successful in basketball or American football. Less so for baseball or hockey, but the latter requires serious equipment.
Out of all the comments pro and con soccer, I think you nailed it.
it’s a sport that anyone can play and possibly excel at with an average physique
I know many players are above average physically but you don’t have the differences in players like our football, basketball, and hockey. Each position needs a different type of athlete. 300 pound linebackers or 7 foot tall forwards or 6 and a half foot tall defensemen are what make the big three popular.
Being big and exceptional is what America is all about.
I beg to differ on Hockey which has quite a few small defensemen actually. Jared Spurgeon at 166lbs and Quinn Hughes isn’t particularly big at 180lbs, both play for your Minnesota Wild.