100% agree with you Bob. There are always questionable calls in every sport and FIFA has a history of being questionable period. But no country’s ruler should ever have input in the outcome. This only tarnishes any further achievements of the USMNT moving forward and they don’t deserve that.
FIFA set a precedent by using Article 27 to reinstate Ronaldo before the WC began. The decision to issue the red card stank; the decision to suspend it stunk; FIFA stinks (stink, stank, stunk). We are where we are: play on and go USA!
You will not getting any sympathy from the Trumpies as they drink the kool-aid It is truly sad for this country that "President" Trump got involved. It has certainly put a cloud over the game, and I am rethinking watching tonigjt...the only act that would save face for our country would be for Balogun to not play
I think the long-term corruption of FIFA and Donald Trump was implied by Mr. Kravitz, and this is why the whole situation has put a cloud over the entire World Cup, particularly if the US continues to win and advance. The unfortunate thing is that the US is now in a no win situation—if they win, it will be tainted and if they lose, it will be they could not even cheat their way through. Trump should have stayed out of it but it is always about him.
We can agree to disagree. This article was solely about Trump's intervention, without a sentence reflecting on FIFA's willingness to listen to it. To discuss the sanctity of competition without putting FIFA directly in the crosshairs is, again, laughable.
I think I made it abundantly clear that most of the blame lands at the FIFA head’s feet. There are specific rules in the FIFA charter that prohibits government interference in FIFA’s affairs.
Bob, since Trump won the coveted FIFA Peace Prize, I can’t imagine the organization would bend its rules for him. This looks completely above board, just like everything Trump and FIFA does. Ugh!
I agree with you Bob except that it shouldn't have happened in the first place. There have been many shady decisions made by this ruling body over the years and maybe there have been phone calls or messages we just dont know about. I dont follow soccer or F1 because I dont believe either one is playing fairly with all entrants.
I don't care what country it works have been. The government should never get involved. It's just like all the parents any more crying about Johnny or Jane not getting to play like mommy and daddy think they should. Keep all those not involved with the game out of it!!
Mauricio Pochettino (Argentine manager/DT) makes the final call. He decides who plays. He will decide whether Balogun stays on the bench. Balogun should not play tonight. While T’s call obstructed an administrative decision, the team has been tainted and the whole turbulence has severely negatively affected the team/players/FIFA UNNECESSARILY:-( A disgrace. Even if they deserve to win, T’s call put the world opinion against the US men’s soccer team. A disgrace. Very sad for all.
I agree in principle with you, Bob. It’s just that FIFA has no principles. And I think governments get I cocked with them, and the Olympics, all of the time, literally every 4 yrs. But most of those leaders don’t go bragging about their interference on national tv… it’s behind the scenes, in the smoke-filled back rooms and maybe with cash swapping hands too. That has certainly been the playbook in past cycles with FIFA. For awarding the right country, choosing the right sites, etc.
We shouldn’t get down in the gutter just because (virtually) everyone else is doing so… but this is not an outrage, it’s just another blip on the international sports scene, like so many others, and blown up because of Trump. Now let’s see who wins on the field tonight.
Bob, I love your column, always have and I will continue to follow you wherever you go. With that said, I’ve never seen this kind of political stance from you. You have always kept your personal politics out of it. Maybe take a walk next time before hitting the send button on this. Again, you’re an amazing writer. Now let’s get back to sports talk shall we. Go Team USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Balogun should voluntarily sit out tonight's game in order to avoid the taint that would attach to a victory if he played. Yes, the red flag was a bad call, but getting a reversal via interference from the Trump administration is, as Jeff Spicoli would've said, "totally bogus." Bad calls get made all the time in sports, and sometimes you just have to suck it up and move on.
There was no intent…and thankfully President Trump spoke up! The red card rules in some cases are over the top. You’re coming across like a lot of journalists who love to knock Trump, regardless of circumstances. Go USA!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
100% agree with you Bob. There are always questionable calls in every sport and FIFA has a history of being questionable period. But no country’s ruler should ever have input in the outcome. This only tarnishes any further achievements of the USMNT moving forward and they don’t deserve that.
FIFA set a precedent by using Article 27 to reinstate Ronaldo before the WC began. The decision to issue the red card stank; the decision to suspend it stunk; FIFA stinks (stink, stank, stunk). We are where we are: play on and go USA!
You will not getting any sympathy from the Trumpies as they drink the kool-aid It is truly sad for this country that "President" Trump got involved. It has certainly put a cloud over the game, and I am rethinking watching tonigjt...the only act that would save face for our country would be for Balogun to not play
I signed up for your newsletter to get sports content, not political commentary. This reaffirms my decision to cancel.
The World Cup isn’t sports. Now I’m confused.
Someone who will never be satisfied. World is filling up with them. Great article Mr Kravitz
As Bob reports, the outcome of this game was affected dramatically by Trump's intervention, It definitely had an effect on the outcome.
Come again, the largest international single sport tournament is not sports?
Thats is his point, Trump made it political. I guess you like winning anyway you can.
While your overriding point may have merit, the fact that there is no mention of FIFA's longstanding corruption is laughable here.
I think the long-term corruption of FIFA and Donald Trump was implied by Mr. Kravitz, and this is why the whole situation has put a cloud over the entire World Cup, particularly if the US continues to win and advance. The unfortunate thing is that the US is now in a no win situation—if they win, it will be tainted and if they lose, it will be they could not even cheat their way through. Trump should have stayed out of it but it is always about him.
We can agree to disagree. This article was solely about Trump's intervention, without a sentence reflecting on FIFA's willingness to listen to it. To discuss the sanctity of competition without putting FIFA directly in the crosshairs is, again, laughable.
I think I made it abundantly clear that most of the blame lands at the FIFA head’s feet. There are specific rules in the FIFA charter that prohibits government interference in FIFA’s affairs.
But not Trump's
Bob, since Trump won the coveted FIFA Peace Prize, I can’t imagine the organization would bend its rules for him. This looks completely above board, just like everything Trump and FIFA does. Ugh!
I agree with you Bob except that it shouldn't have happened in the first place. There have been many shady decisions made by this ruling body over the years and maybe there have been phone calls or messages we just dont know about. I dont follow soccer or F1 because I dont believe either one is playing fairly with all entrants.
I don't care what country it works have been. The government should never get involved. It's just like all the parents any more crying about Johnny or Jane not getting to play like mommy and daddy think they should. Keep all those not involved with the game out of it!!
Mauricio Pochettino (Argentine manager/DT) makes the final call. He decides who plays. He will decide whether Balogun stays on the bench. Balogun should not play tonight. While T’s call obstructed an administrative decision, the team has been tainted and the whole turbulence has severely negatively affected the team/players/FIFA UNNECESSARILY:-( A disgrace. Even if they deserve to win, T’s call put the world opinion against the US men’s soccer team. A disgrace. Very sad for all.
I agree in principle with you, Bob. It’s just that FIFA has no principles. And I think governments get I cocked with them, and the Olympics, all of the time, literally every 4 yrs. But most of those leaders don’t go bragging about their interference on national tv… it’s behind the scenes, in the smoke-filled back rooms and maybe with cash swapping hands too. That has certainly been the playbook in past cycles with FIFA. For awarding the right country, choosing the right sites, etc.
We shouldn’t get down in the gutter just because (virtually) everyone else is doing so… but this is not an outrage, it’s just another blip on the international sports scene, like so many others, and blown up because of Trump. Now let’s see who wins on the field tonight.
Bob, I love your column, always have and I will continue to follow you wherever you go. With that said, I’ve never seen this kind of political stance from you. You have always kept your personal politics out of it. Maybe take a walk next time before hitting the send button on this. Again, you’re an amazing writer. Now let’s get back to sports talk shall we. Go Team USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
The problem here is that politics, Trump, intervened.
Balogun should voluntarily sit out tonight's game in order to avoid the taint that would attach to a victory if he played. Yes, the red flag was a bad call, but getting a reversal via interference from the Trump administration is, as Jeff Spicoli would've said, "totally bogus." Bad calls get made all the time in sports, and sometimes you just have to suck it up and move on.
Trumps only purpose in his life is to make other people as miserable as he is, in my opinion.
KNOW ONE BELIEVES for one second you’d have THIS kind of outrage if OBAMA did this.!
And it’s easy to say “you would” when quickly following it up with. “he wouldn’t do it “
FIFA (like F1) r corrupt. ….u play the “game” until things change.
Another fellow FIFA & F1 truther 😊
I just finalized the state of Commercial in Football in Europe; it's free for everyone. I worked with over 80 Clubs and just shared my report. Multiple teams, clubs, and federations have enjoyed it. https://kaufmannventures.podia.com/the-state-of-commercial-growth-in-european-sport
There was no intent…and thankfully President Trump spoke up! The red card rules in some cases are over the top. You’re coming across like a lot of journalists who love to knock Trump, regardless of circumstances. Go USA!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸