Trump May Have Just Broken the World Cup

[nitpicked]

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-fifa-world-cup-usmnt-folarin-balogun-suspension-intervention-live-updates.html

It was of course inevitable that a World Cup hosted by the U.S. while FIFA’s first and only peace prize winner Donald Trump is president would involve some precedent-shattering political intervention which outraged the world, and now it’s happened. Over the weekend, FIFA rescinded the automatic suspension of the USMNT’s top scoring player, striker Folarin Balogun, following a pressure campaign by the White House and Trump — who personally spoke with FIFA president Gianni Infantino about the matter. Balogun received a controversial red card, following a VAR review, during America’s Round-of-32 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was thus supposed to be automatically barred from playing in the next game in the tournament. FIFA swears the extraordinary reversal wasn’t politically influenced, but everyone else is far from convinced. The move has not only called into question the legitimacy of the U.S. team, but the integrity of this year’s tournament and (once again) of FIFA, itself.
(snip)

[justaprogressive]

1. Oy!

[Walleye]

2. He won't accept the results of anything. Elections, races, court cases

We can’t even except when a woman says she can’t stand him. Rejection is tough on the poor boy.

[rampartd]

4. "yes means yes no means may be." every rapist.

[Codifer]

57. according to Justice Bret,

"No means yes and yes means anal".

[allegorical oracle]

64. One thing he quickly accepted: A gold ring from the Belgian diamond industry. It

is encrusted with 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds, and six rubies. The top of the ring is the size of a watch face. His tiny little finger will be weighted down.

[Escurumbele]

70. The foul he committed during the game did not call for a red card, it was not intentional and did not have the severity

worthy of a red card, it was bad judgement from the referee.

Having said that, the call was made, and there is no way that it should have been overturned. It is unprecedent, but of course, we have the president of FIFA who is as corrupt as the USA president, the two get together and...it happens.

FIFA is most probably one of the most corrupt organizations in the World, it just proved it.

[thomski64]

3. What a Putz

..if the US team loses, as it surely will, if not to Belgium then to Spain.
Will the cunt of mostly Crisco have his Neanderthal hordes storm the stadium and smear feces??
What a numbskull (a lot people don't know there's a B in numbskull)

[dem4decades]

7. Spain did look really sharp, like a sleeper team.

[maxsolomon]

22. Wow, the C word on DU

You're not posting in Scotland or Australia, mate.

[sarisataka]

23. It has become more common, unfortunately

And rarely is removed.

[The Madcap]

30. It's no worse than the name T****.

That name is the worst profanity.

[sarisataka]

33. His name is not misogynistic

He is but not his name

[The Madcap]

34. That is true, but he will destroy our country.

Which is why I think he is even worse.

[sarisataka]

35. Still does not justify female slurs on DU

[The Madcap]

37. That is true

Thank you for saying so.

[niyad]

80. Thank you.

[Another Jackalope]

42. How is it different from calling T an asshole?

They're both slang terms for part of the anatomy. How did one become quasi-acceptable and the other not?
Should I remove my reference to Trump being an asshole?

Given the efforts of womyn to reclaim the "c" word, I think objecting to it may be more misogynistic than using it in the first place. But I'm cis-male, and so have less right to opinions on such matters.

[sarisataka]

44. Most American women I know put it among the vilest of slurs

And find it very offensive, regardless, whom it is directed at. Much like when homophobic slayers are directed at Republicans and it is justified because of the target. My family, who is LGBTQ find that offensive and homophobic.

YMMV

But it is a free country you can direct any slur at any person you want. I also have the right to judge the use of such slurs.

[Another Jackalope]

53. Despite my trollish comment, I do understand your reaction. I never use the word.

Linguistic interpretation is primarily cultural and secondarily personal, IMO. I've had others object when I referred to Trump as an "orange shitgibbon" because of their respect for those other primates. As another example, I find the use of the word "pig" to refer to men in general to be extremely offensive. I find the c word more off-colour than offensive, but that's just me. Out of respect for others' sensitivities, I just don't use it. There are more generally acceptable ways of making the underlying point.

I'm sorry if my position upsets you.

[sarisataka]

55. D'accord

We are good

[Another Jackalope]

56. Thank you.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

82. As a woman

… I have no problem calling someone a cunt—especially a man who’s specifically deemed women worthy of the insult, which I think makes them (and especially HIM) even more worthy of having it thrown back in their faces.

I can’t think of a better insult to a guy who thinks he’s the most macho dude in the world. I would think this term in particular is the one that he would take maximum offense at—which makes it the perfect choice. His machismo is all an act and for a “macho man,” he surely does bend over to Putin’s every wish, doesn’t he? So yes, I’ll take him down at every opportunity with a word I think would infuriate him like no other. It’s not implying anything against us as women—it’s just a word, and he point is that HE would think it the ultimate insult to HIM.

Seriously. We’re adult here. Listen to news podcasts and note that even professionals will throw out a fuck here and there because this timeline is ridiculous. Everyone needs a way to vent. Do we really need to be whacked on the knuckles by a room monitor when we use a word someone is offended by? You assume a lot in speaking for “most American women,” I assure you, just as I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds pearl-clutching every bit as annoying.

[sarisataka]

83. Note my qualifier

most American women that I know.

Others, such as yourself, have different opinions.

Every word is just a word but I'm not going to go around saying N****r or F****t because they are just words

[pattyloutwo]

60. Eye roll

Especially your spelling of “women.” I didn't know I was reclaiming the c word. Yes, you know a lot about this issue 🙄

[orangecrush]

66. You went there

I can't.

I just can't.

We get into some weird shit on this site.

[pattyloutwo]

58. Should be removed in my opinion

[sarisataka]

62. Per DU rules I cannot say

I was on a jury and voted to hide, but hypothetically if I was on such a jury I know what I would have voted.

[Galraedia]

61. Outside the U. S. and Canada, the word is used as a slightly less taboo insult for a stupid or unpleasant person.

[maxsolomon]

63. Oh, I'm quite aware.

Hence my response.

[Wednesdays]

69. I would substitute,

"The Con of Mostly Crisco."

[NBachers]

54. But there is no B in Nimrod

[Captain Zero]

76. The B in numbskull stands for

The whiney little BITCH Trump is.

[niyad]

79. Sighhhhhhh. Using a misogynist, sexist slur to describe the

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2026, 02:00 AM - Edit history (1)

orange creature is still offensively misogynistic.

[niyad]

77. While I proudly claim the c-word as one of the early titles of the Goddess, in

THIS time and place, it is a misogynist, sexist slur, so I would ask you to remove it. A little common courtesy, as requested by other DU members as well. The fact that so many are now so casually using it as the slur that it is does NOT make its use any less offensive. That this has to repeatedly be stated on DU is disheartening.

From the G. A. B. (from "SUFFS: The Musical" )

[eppur_se_muova]

84. There's probably a worm in there as well. nt

[31j20b3]

5. Among the players there seems to be consensus that the Red Card was a mistake.

Sour grapes not withstanding, it seems FIFA is perched to survive this.

[ImNotGod]

10. doesn't matter, now that the orange nazi got involved anything our team accomplishes from now on

will be forfeit in the eyes by the entire world.

[31j20b3]

16. Maybe. Trump's intervention was a terrible thing for sports

But I've listened to many commentaries on this, and the common message, perhaps pushed by a corrupt FIFA leadership, is that there was agreement among players and coaches that the red card was a bad call.

I don't really care about soccer/football or any other sport to see it move it into a political domain. Mostly I think it's Trump faking power and influence when the shaky reality of the call was already understood within the players and teams

[EdmondDantes_]

20. Is that supported by anything other than wishful thinking?

Is anything England accomplishes forfeit because Starmer helped stop an earlier start for the Mexico game? Or is it just that you hate Trump that he lives rent free in your head and you can't imagine that other people aren't so consumed by him. I get it, he sucks. But most of the rest of the world isn't nearly as consumed by him as too many of us are. If FIFA sending the World Cup to Russia and Qatar didn't diminish the World Cup, neither is Trump whining and getting a suspension suspended isn't going to do it

[bleedingulcers]

38. You might be surprised...

by how much other countries focus on him. Look at any international newspaper online and see how often he's mentioned. And then VISIT somewhere, and see what people say to you as soon as they realize that you're from the US.
They're obsessed with him, and they think that we're idiots for electing him again...

[3catwoman3]

74. "...and they think that we're idiots for electing him again..."

And they are right.

[Old Crank]

47. The red card may have been a mistake

Probably should have been a caution. The player accepted it and the coach.
FIFA has done this before, vacating punishment for a red card. For Christiano Ronaldo. He had 2 games of suspension removed.
That set a precedent.
The biggest problem is the real or perceived interference by Trump. That is what is so bad about this in my opinion. Infanti could have said I talked to a bunch of officials, referees and we thought the decision was too harsh. Then agree or not people would move on.
Having Trump, seemingly, in a public manner put the squeeze on changes the equation. Not for the better.

[wiggs]

67. Questionable calls are part of the game, as is an appeal process that doesn't involve political figures. nt

[RandomNumbers]

6. ETTD

Everything Trump Touches Dies.

[not fooled]

24. Proven more and more every day

I came here to post the same thing. Rick Wilson is right!

[Boo1]

8. I havent watched a second of European kickball

But wasnt everyone pissed off that he shouldnt have had the red card in the first place?

[Wanderlust988]

9. Messi's foul was far more egregious and even looked intentional, but he didn't even get a whistle.

Balogun only got the red card cause he's black. Yes I said it. The soccer rules are not applied equally. Everyone knows this. Nothing is fair in soccer. So what's good for the goose is good for gander.

[maxrandb]

21. That's not the point!

The point is, you accept the outcome. Your dad doesn't call the league to get a reversal.

I watch a lot of sports. There are missed calls and bad calls in every game. It's part of the game, and it happens all the time.

Part of being a mature adult, is accepting the rules you've agreed to and accepting the fact that things don't always go your way. You dust yourself off, move on, and accept that sometimes the cookie crumbles your way, and sometimes it doesn't.

This is just one more example that Donnie Dipshit and his fucking MAGAts don't think the rules apply to them.

If Balogun plays, he's no different than the lowest MAGAt Proud Boy out there.

[Ponietz]

40. Balogun's words after the game and before the reversal:

“I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion,” Balogun said. “There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it’s unjust.”

He didn’t cry or complain. To equate Balogun with MAGA is deluded and infantile.

[JT45242]

11. The US should be automatically disqualified by rules and the fraudulent FIFA and its corruption

It's literally in the rules -- political pressure is an automatic DQ for that country.

[TomSlick]

17. FIFA has never been circumspect in following its own rules.

FIFA is a law unto itself.

[vanlassie]

26. The guy never should have taken Trump's call.

No integrity.

[TomSlick]

72. It was firmly established that FIFA has no integrity when Trump was given the they first ever FIFA peace prize..

What I can't figure is if the FIFA president made his decision because of Trump's call or despite it.

I understand the motivation for the "peace prize." FIFA was concerned that Trump would block players from entering the US or, worse, having ICE start arresting players. It was a weasel move but it guaranteed Trump wouldn't disrupt the World Cup when it was too late to move games.

At this point, there is nothing Trump can do to interfere with the World Cup. By the next time the US might host the World Cup, Trump will have long gone to his award. I just don't see a reason for FIFA to continue kissing Trump's fat posterior.

[vanlassie]

86. Apparently that guy is a Super Syncophant.

[JT45242]

52. Yep FIFA and the IOC are as corrupt as the trump crime family

Sickening that the two largest international sporting events are basically criminal organizations that are open for bribes.

[TomSlick]

73. No organization is as corrupt as the Trump family. That's a mighty high hurdle to clear.

Nevertheless, FIFA and the IOC are both corrupt. They are both laws unto themselves that are answerable to no one.

[agingdem]

12. Let's start with the bogus FIFA Peace Prize..

FIFA was “buying” Trump’s silence…allow the games to go on without Trump’s psychotic need to sabotage hosting blue state cities…but regardless the right or wrong of Balogun’s red card suspension, Trump (the apex of corruption) calling in a favor and FIFA (under scrutiny for ethics complaints) honoring that favor, poisoned the one grand event that brought the us together as a nation..

[Blue Owl]

13. Rumor is they are adding two handles to the World Cup Trophy so little Donny can hold it

Like his little sippy cup of warm milk

[usonian]

14. White House website (BOGUS)

[mdbl]

15. He breaks everything else so does anyone care?

I know the GOP doesn't.

[Skittles]

18. he couldn't stand all the attention the WC was getting

had to insert himself

[Grim Chieftain]

19. The World Cup should be boycotted

He is tampering with the ruling to suit himself and effect a favorable outcome. The event has been tainted by his interference and people should send a very clear message that this will not be tolerated.

[sarisataka]

27. Let me guess you have not watched the World Cup before have you?

There has long been scandals in cheating in various matches. In certain areas of the world, it is tacitly accepted that if you don’t get caught it is legal. The France versus Paraguay match was an excellent example of that attitude; had Paraguay won they would not have disqualified themselves for their actions in the match.

[Grim Chieftain]

41. Well, you're wrong, but thanks for sharing

[sarisataka]

46. NP

[Grim Chieftain]

48. Tough times, nerves are raw, no offense intended

[sarisataka]

49. None taken

It’s like trash talk during the game and then everyone goes out for a beer afterwards

Although thinking about it, I should give myself a yellow card for unsporting behavior, and trash talking

[sarisataka]

25. The World Cup will be fine

It has endured scandals and cheating (I’m looking at you, Maradona) in the past this will be a footnote, but ultimately this scandal will be small potatoes.

[moonshinegnomie]

29. FIFA (as well as the international olympic committee) shoudldboth be disbanded

they are both nothing more than corrupt organizatons the exist to make their leadership rich thru corruption

[sarisataka]

31. I believe they should be reformed as the sports do need governing bodies

But given the amount of money involved in both venues, I fear corruption would simply re-emerge.

The ironic thing is this FIFA is still better than it was under Sepp Blatter. SMH

[ananda]

28. This is Trump's basic MO for everything in his life.

No matter who, what, or where... Trump will
claim it to own, fuck it up, and proclaim victory
and excellence for his part and blame something
or someone else for the fuckup.

[The Madcap]

32. This could be his Jesse Owens moment.

He would go ballistic.

[3catwoman3]

36. For soccer lovers, like we are, the World Cup has been a welcome respite from...

...all the crap that it always in the news about Trump.

Now he has ruined even that.

[Initech]

39. Yeah, well, anyone going to do anything about it?

I'm so sick of the fucking man child getting everything he wants. Enough is enough.

[2naSalit]

43. Yup... NEXT UP...

The Olympics.

You just know he'll fuck that up too, especially if he can't make it all about himself.

[ChicagoTeamster]

45. Add it to the list

[Fil1957]

50. It's easy to blame Trump, but doesn't FIFA have a vote? Do they HAVE to submit to him? Don't they bear some

responsibility? Perhaps the most? If no one knuckles under to Trump, his power is greatly diminished. People and organizations that do, are at least partly to mostly responsible for this disastrous presidency.

After all, Trump is just being Trump and doesn't know any better. It's up to the adults in the room to curb him, because they SHOULD know better.

[Music Man]

51. The fucker couldn't help himself.

It's been a fun, joyous World Cup, and then he just had to inject himself into it. It was inevitable. He is the dumbest, most brutish embarrassment.

Even the press conference today. He was going on and on about how much he knows about sports but then says he started hearing about what a big deal a red card is. A goddman, fucking embarrassment of a man and president.

[Martin68]

59. What else can we expect from the FIFA ass-kissers who gave Trump a "Peace Prize?"

[BradBo]

65. Sure, you bet FIFA.

[WorkDoctor]

68. Stay in your lane trump

He broke the USFL years ago, nearly jinxed the Knicks, and now calls up his buddy who gave him his fake trophy (after nearly stealing the REAL World Cup trophy brought to the oval bordello).

[TNNurse]

71. He damages everything he touches.

[SpankMe]

75. Calls into question the integrity of FIFA itself?

FIFA is singularly the most corrupt organization in the world, aside from some governments. FIFA is looking at "integrity" in the rear view mirror.

[Captain Zero]

78. They don't back their referees decisions.

They need to get that Italian guy out of the top position. He's probably Mafia.

[SpankMe]

85. FIFA is so corrupt, Mafia would be an upgrade

Political favoritism, bribery, quid pro quo, retribution, racketeering, money laundering, kickbacks, vote-selling...it's all part of FIFA's standard ops. On top of that, they gave Trump a totally made-up "FIFA peace prize" to curry favoritism against ICE interference with foreign tourists and teams traveling to the US.

I loved watching the matches. But FIFA is a criminal enterprise.

[ewcordon]

81. It ended for the U.S. Team when

It ended for the U.S. Team when Trump put his stench on them.