Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
In a throwback to one of Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s more cringeworthy speeches: Today, he feels American.
USA forward Folarin Balogun was today cleared to play against Belgium in the 2026 Fifa World Cup Round of 16, despite being suspended for the contest due to a red card in the host’s 2-0 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina in their previous contest.
The White House petitioned Fifa to allow forward Folarin Balogun to play in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16.
(via TeamTalk.)
For context, Balogun was ejected after VAR official Juan Soto paged referee Raphael Claus to have a look at the forward’s inadvertent but potentially dangerous collision with Tarik Muharemovic.
VAR, remember, assists referees in rectifying “clear and obvious errors” or “missed incidents”. It is football’s answer to an AI judge. And a Fifa spokesman was quick to point out, after the US – Bosnia match, that appeals are not entertained for automatic one-game suspension.
Then US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said publicly that his team had been “screwed” and the White House made a phone call to Fifa. And, badda bing, badda boom…
“So Poch, you know that thing you were having a problem with? No, not that thing. The other thing. Yeah, that’s right. Gianni said it won’t be a problem no more…”
The Belgium FA subsequently declared that it was “astonished” by the ruling and “is investigating all potential options”. Yeah, good luck finding a court that Trump listens to.
I mean this is a president who dragged a foreign head of state and his wife out of their beds, froze the assets of International Criminal Court judges, bullied his way into a guest appearance on Home Alone 2 and definitely was NOT involved in any hanky-panky on Epstein Island…
Get a room already!
(Hey, the closest thing that Mr Live Wire has to a panic room is the toilet, and that definitely ain’t US Army-proof!)
… So, yeah, the Belgian football team better walk it off, and thank god (by which we mean, Trump) that they don’t have to travel to their next match from Mexico!
- Rule number one: he who leads the bigger army sets the rules.
- Rule number two? You haven’t been paying attention, have you?
Legal justification and rules-based order are outdated concepts in 2026. Belgium should forget CAS or any judicial body and try a language that The Donald understands instead, like rapping legos!
Mr Live Wire cannot confirm that Dominic Hadeed’s attorney dispatched an urgent missive to the US: “Heard you guys are looking for a soccer player… Tell Trump that Dom can play on top!”
Well, that was cringe-worthy. It is never easy to see a major nation floundering as they try to balance the Read more
Not surprisingly, the most seismic performance of the 2026 World Cup has come from a Brazilian who was made for Read more
Enraged by election results that did not go his way, outgoing United States president Donald Trump incited—indirectly or not—thousands of Read more
“[US president Donald Trump] can say whatever he wants,” said National Security Minister Stuart Young yesterday. “At the end of Read more
Not for the first time, Trinidad and Tobago can only look on with mouth agape as an unrepentant nanny-loving political Read more
You know that your foreign policy ideas probably were not as well thought out as you hoped when you find Read more
Mr. Live Wire is an avid news reader who translates media reports for persons who can handle the truth. And satire. Unlike Jack Nicholson, he rarely yells.
