Echo Comment on the World Cup in the US

Donald Trump’s performance in calling the Fifa president and asking for a review of the red card for the US’ star striker which was due to keep him out of a crucial match was even more extraordinary. It was brazen. It was blatant. It was as if the most powerful man in the world was trying to fix the result of a football match.

Even more extraordinarily, Fifa – presumably on the orders of its president Gianni Infantino who, ridiculously once awarded Trump a Fifa world peace prize – gave in and somehow shunted Folarin Balogun’s suspension into the long grass so he could play.

Rules are crucial to sport. In fact, sport ceases to be sport if the rules are not stuck to or are not fairly applied. Indeed, football has brought in video-assisted refereeing to make sure the rules are properly being followed and nothing is being missed or misinterpreted.

Balogun was, like England’s Jarrell Quansah, a little unlucky to be dismissed. He wasn’t malicious, but his challenge, with his studs going down his opponent’s calf and then ending on his foot, did seriously endanger the other player. After consultation with VAR, the referee decided it was worth a red card – who is Trump, who admitted he did not understand the concept of a red card, to challenge such a decision?

Why doesn’t Trump be fair and challenge Quansah’s dismissal?

And, if Trump is so concerned about fair play, why hasn’t he called up Fifa and demanded retrospective action against Paraguay? As much as everyone admires the plucky underdog, their behaviour against France – slapping, punching, exaggerating and even attempting to vandalise the penalty spot – was disgraceful and was apparently missed by a weak referee.

But if Trump can get the US’ goalscorer reinstated despite his ban, it shows that Fifa has no interest in applying the rules fairly for the good of everyone who plays this beautiful game.