FIFA’s decision to defer Balogun’s punishment at Trump’s request is terrible, mostly because it places an asterisk on the USMNT’s accomplishments if they beat Belgium — and indeed however far they go. We will never know if we succeeded only because FIFA was bribing Trump for a peaceful event. And frankly, that’s the way Trump likes things: winning becomes a testament to his own power and influence, and he doesn’t really care for fair competitions anyway. To him, they miss the point.
American dignity requires either a fair victory on none. The best — I’d say the only path forward with dignity is to Bench Balogun in the Game against Belgium. Then if we win it can be with head held high.
I wrote the day after the match that I thought a red card was a reasonable call. The argument against it stressed that the penalized foul was not intentional; that’s true. But there are several gradations for infractions beyond intentional: I don’t think a negligent infraction should get a red card, but the intermediate levels — reckless and knowing — can justify one if the stakes (likelihood of serious injury during fair play) are serious enough. The photo makes clear that what Balogun did placed his opponent’s ankle at risk of serious injury. That’s why the refs were right to go to the video, including slow motion, because it helps us see how close he did come in injuring a blameless (and unsuspecting) opponent with his own reckless play. Reckless offenses are still offenses — and while they don’t bring the sort of tremendous punishment meted out to the man who intentionally broke a Canadian player’s leg, a red card is a good price to levy upon carelessly risking a fellow elite athlete’s career.
If you disagree, fine. As a compromise, maybe Balogun could be held back until the last 22.5 minutes of regular time. At least it’s a gesture towards justice instead of us being the “Karens” of international futbol, who when a tab is due complain and ask to see your boss.
And make no mistake: that is what this is about. It’s like a parent from one team, or the boss of the team’s coach, officiating the finals. It’s about “Do you know who I AM?” being the card that ends any argument about fairness. Again —just the way Trump likes it! The game is fixed; resistance is both futile and punished.
And if we win — or “win” — a World Cup based based on this sort of corrupt power play, we will richly earn the world’s contempt. And not just this year! This outlasts Trump. Fans of the game will never forget it. We are being gifted with a poisoned golden apple by FIFA — and we need to reject it quickly, clearly, and absolutely.
The decision here is managerial, but it’s not up only to the team’s brass. The U.S. coach can choose, for strategic reasons, to hold back Balogun either altogether — or for maybe the first 3/4 of the game. A good reason for this is that, if unpunished, Balogun essentially becomes a marked man who may find an ample supply of angle shots aimed at him. (After all, it doesn’t invite a red card!)
Other U.S. players may become targets as well. Why not? The norm against running to Daddy Warbucks to shield one is pretty strong. Especially with Trump trying to take political credit for saving the day, some players might prefer NOT to be on the pitch for this one.
And of course there’s one player who could make the most profound penalty. Balogun could simply say that he accepted FIFA’s initial ruling and would not play for most or all of the game. To me, that would make him truly heroic — and he’d be justly celebrated worldwide.
Yours for good sportsmanship and integrity!
Balugun has no moral responsibility to decide his own fate one way or the other. Neither does the USMNT, come to think of it.
Of course the Yam should have stayed out of it, and FIFA should have told him to fuck off. But that didn’t happen.