Is it any surprise that the USA men’s soccer team lost…and lost big, 4-1, to Belgium in their quarterfinal match of the round of 16 of World Cup play? It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who knows, and understands, that anything Donald J. Trump puts his hands on is a loser.
As soon as Trump interfered by calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and wrongfully moved to have a red card suspension overturned to allow star striker Folarin Balogin to play against Belgium, the stage was set. Trump was hoping to prop himself up as the hero and, instead, added his name to yet another failed debacle.
Balogun was given the red card during the USA’s July 1 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina after he clashed with an opposing player’s foot. The red card automatically led to a one-game suspension. That’s the rule. FIFA officials announced at the time that the call was final, and not able to be overturned or appealed.
But then Infantino caved to Trump and threw the rules out the window. Because in the world of Donald J. Trump…”FUCK THE RULES.”
Trump doesn’t care about laws, he doesn’t care about the Constitution of the United States, so why would he care in the slightest about the rules of a major international sports organization? He wouldn’t.
And why would anyone expect Infantino, the President of that major international sports organization to stand up to him and say, “I’m sorry, sir, Mr. President, but the rules are the rules. That’s why we HAVE rules.” You wouldn’t.
Because Infantino is the very person who presented the guy who says “FUCK THE RULES” with some conjured up fake award – the very first FIFA Peace Prize.
Let’s be serious…Falorin Balogin’s presence on the US team goes against everything Trump and his administration believe and promote…so it’s ironic that Trump made a move to insist that Balogin be permitted to play.
Balogin was, in fact, born in Brooklyn, New York. However, it was only because his parents were on a visa visiting from England when his mother was seven months pregnant. Balogin grew up in London. He played soccer for teams in England and Monaco and still plays for Monaco.
Balogin has dual citizenship, and is only a citizen of the United States BECAUSE OF the 14th Amendment, having been born in the US during a visit by his parents.
So according to Trump and his administration, Balogin should not be entitled to wear the Team USA uniform, right?
Some argue that if Balogin did NOT play and Belgium won, their victory would be tainted. Well, regardless of what side of the political fence you are on, once the rules were allowed to be violated, for ANY reason, the game itself was tainted.
There are people who are up in arms because there are those who were hoping that BECAUSE OF TRUMP’S INTEFERENCE that the US team would lose to Belgium.
Listen…these are NOT two armies, navies, or air forces going to war on the battlefield. These are two athletic teams on the playing field.
If I am rooting for Belgium to win, it does not make me anti-American, it does not make me a communist. I am a sports fan. If Pele was playing for Brazil, I would root for Brazil. If Franz Beckenbauer was playing for Germany, I would root for Germany. If Giorgio Chinaglia was playing for Italy, I would root for Italy. None of that makes me anti-American or a communist. Of course, if Tony Meola was playing for the United States, I would root for the United States.
A true fan appreciates the talents of every athlete on the field, and respects the game itself.
Donald J. Trump doesn’t respect anything. He puts his name on things – casinos, universities, airlines, professional football…the list goes on – and those things fail. He tried to ensure a win for the USA on the soccer field. That, too, failed.
If I, or anyone, rooted FOR Belgium BECAUSE of his attempted manipulation…oh well…Belgium proved to the world that Trump’s influence means absolutely nothing.
