From Robert Reich this morning : “How can anyone ever again trust that the United States has won a game fair and square? How can the fine athletes representing us rejoice in a victory when the president of the United States has used his political power to change a referee’s call?...Bullies who abuse their power by altering the rules of a game to favor themselves end up spoiling the game for everyone. They destroy the trust on which any system — be it a World Cup competition, or a political race, or a market economy — ultimately depends.
Now we have a World Cup in which an American president has put his thumb on the scale. As a result, he has forever tarnished the integrity of the game….. and also the integrity of America.”
No doubt Donald will have considered the possibility that Belgium will win today, ( the hope of the entire football following world,) so will have a plan up his sleeve to Make American Soccer Great Again. As all the other teams in this tournament are foreign, they could immediately be declared undesirable, illegal and a danger to the security of the USA. ICE thugs would be despatched to round up, incarcerate then deport them to all the corners of the world nobody has ever heard of. This would mean that the American team, being the only one left in this event must, by default, be the winner. I’m sure FIFA would see the logic in this and gladly hand the trophy over to the greatest football team ever.
As Football diehard fans and a family member who has coached some of Aotearoas NZ successful players in the past we are just gutted at FIFA'S cowardly and terrible decision. Teams would rather lose and than cheat.
FIFA has long been corrupt...and Trump's track record speaks for itself. What's astounding is how blatantly they have made this turn-around decision. It's another wedge in the battle for how much corruption, lies, deceit, and violence we (the people) will accept. So far, we (the people) are not doing so well! Other actors (Peters, Seymour, Luxon, Hobson's Pledge, the Atlas Network etc) will be taking note and rubbing their filthy hands.
Trump is a deadly and contagious virus that is spreading its racism and hatred around the world. The political figures in our own vile and despicable coalition have caught the disease and everything they do is influenced by this sickness. The effects are spreading through our society like the plague of locusts it is. If we don't do something very soon, it will totally destroy us.
Agreed. The vileness and corruption of the current US administration (which started the decline in it’s first term), and their getting away with it, has emboldened like minded people everywhere.
Not surprised the world is full of liars & cheats particularly in politics & the elites of the world we seem to have gone back to the degenerate medieval times.
It's just a reductio ad absurdum in a game that accepts cheating as routine. For me, football has long epitomised what professionalism does to sport. Winning has become everything, at all and any cost.
From Robert Reich this morning : “How can anyone ever again trust that the United States has won a game fair and square? How can the fine athletes representing us rejoice in a victory when the president of the United States has used his political power to change a referee’s call?...Bullies who abuse their power by altering the rules of a game to favor themselves end up spoiling the game for everyone. They destroy the trust on which any system — be it a World Cup competition, or a political race, or a market economy — ultimately depends.
Now we have a World Cup in which an American president has put his thumb on the scale. As a result, he has forever tarnished the integrity of the game….. and also the integrity of America.”
Unfortunately for a lot of Americans, The USA has no integrity.
I look forward to the player foregoing their ill-gotten playing chance or the coach refusing to play him and Belgium eliminating the US.
No doubt Donald will have considered the possibility that Belgium will win today, ( the hope of the entire football following world,) so will have a plan up his sleeve to Make American Soccer Great Again. As all the other teams in this tournament are foreign, they could immediately be declared undesirable, illegal and a danger to the security of the USA. ICE thugs would be despatched to round up, incarcerate then deport them to all the corners of the world nobody has ever heard of. This would mean that the American team, being the only one left in this event must, by default, be the winner. I’m sure FIFA would see the logic in this and gladly hand the trophy over to the greatest football team ever.
It's not as far-fetched as it might seem.
Nothing Trump does surprises me any more. Nothing at all.
As Football diehard fans and a family member who has coached some of Aotearoas NZ successful players in the past we are just gutted at FIFA'S cowardly and terrible decision. Teams would rather lose and than cheat.
Does anyone doubt that he would cheat at golf now?
He does cheat at golf. A compulsive liar, all about him. What a lonely world he must live in with only one person in it!
The alternative universe persists, dumbfounded that there are so many gutless / unscrupulous ‘men’ in this world..😢
FIFA has long been corrupt...and Trump's track record speaks for itself. What's astounding is how blatantly they have made this turn-around decision. It's another wedge in the battle for how much corruption, lies, deceit, and violence we (the people) will accept. So far, we (the people) are not doing so well! Other actors (Peters, Seymour, Luxon, Hobson's Pledge, the Atlas Network etc) will be taking note and rubbing their filthy hands.
Trump is a deadly and contagious virus that is spreading its racism and hatred around the world. The political figures in our own vile and despicable coalition have caught the disease and everything they do is influenced by this sickness. The effects are spreading through our society like the plague of locusts it is. If we don't do something very soon, it will totally destroy us.
Agreed. The vileness and corruption of the current US administration (which started the decline in it’s first term), and their getting away with it, has emboldened like minded people everywhere.
Well he got one thing correct ... the election in 2020 was rigged BY ELON MUSK and HIM!
Why stop there Trump, buy the Referee and assistant refs. Trump is so crooked
Trump will soon be wearing a new cap. MACA. Make America Cheat Again.
Is it surprising that trump has had a wee tantrum to get his way??
Not really. Shame on FIFA for bending over 😕
I’m speechless!!
Not surprised the world is full of liars & cheats particularly in politics & the elites of the world we seem to have gone back to the degenerate medieval times.
On the list of things I care about...a soccer tournament is almost at the bottom.
👍💯 Same! BUT I DO care about blatant bullying & corruption being rewarded 🙇
In the end, it wasn't.
It's just a reductio ad absurdum in a game that accepts cheating as routine. For me, football has long epitomised what professionalism does to sport. Winning has become everything, at all and any cost.