If anyone deserves a red card it’s Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino
If this World Cup is to be remembered as the best ever, it will be in spite of their efforts, not because of them
The US had high hopes for success in the World Cup both as co-hosts and with the performance of its national team, promising to deliver the best tournament ever.
All appeared to be going well, especially when the home nation beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first knockout round to progress to the last 16.
Then President Donald Trump stepped in. It was an intervention waiting to happen. The scandal has gravely undermined the integrity of the sport, its governing body and the World Cup itself.
It all began with a red card, waved by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus at US star striker and top goalscorer Folarin Balogun. After viewing video replays, the ref sent the player off, deeming his treading on a Bosnian opponent’s ankle to be serious foul play. This did not prevent the US team from winning 2-0.
The red card, according to well-established and widely understood rules, meant that Balogun would automatically be suspended for the next game, a quarter-final clash with Belgium. A longer ban would not have been surprising.
This is the usual practice, no matter how controversial the issuing of the red card might be. Anyone who follows football knows this. But that, it seems, does not include the US government.