The red card that didn't stick

If ever there was an occasion to celebrate bullying as a noble, profitable art form, FIFA just handed out a trophy in the discipline to its favourite awardee: FIFA Peace Prize laureate Donald Trump. In last week's Bosnia and Herzegovina-US World Cup match, the referee had shown the US' Folarin Balogun a red card, admittedly a dodgy decision.

On Sunday, it flexed its 'bureaucratic muscles' with all the subtlety of a Hooters staffer to lift the next-match ban, allowing the star striker to play against Belgium on Monday. FIFA invoked Article 27 of its code, that suspends implementation of a disciplinary sanction - essentially, a switch that flips the proverbial Ludo board over if the way a round is proceeding is not to one's liking.

Earlier, Trump had reportedly talked to Infantino asking him to review the call. After FIFA's decision, the G.L.O.A.T. took to Truth Social: 'Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!' The transcript of the Infantino-Trump call remains classified.


Trump and Fifa khansama Gianni Infantino have shown the best way to win is to shove fairness aside and revel in in-your-face domination. Bullying isn't just acceptable but aspirational. Iran's departed squad should take notes. Forget tactics, forget stamina - what you really need is a red card to top red cards. Rules are for losers.