FIFA President's Intervention in Football Match Foul Criticized
Translated from Slovenian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The article criticizes a referee's decision to overturn a red card for a dangerous foul by U.S. player Balogun against a Bosnian player in a football match.
- The author alleges that FIFA President Gianni Infantino intervened, leading to the suspension of the red card, allowing Balogun to play in the next game against Belgium.
- The U.S. team was subsequently defeated by Belgium 4-1 and eliminated from the tournament, which the author deems a just outcome.
The author expresses strong disapproval of a referee's decision in a football match between the USA and Bosnia, where U.S. player Balogun committed a severe foul. The foul, which involved striking a Bosnian player's ankle with the sole of his boot, was initially met with a red card after consultation with VAR officials. The author believes the injured player will be sidelined for at least six months.
However, the author claims that FIFA President Gianni Infantino intervened in the matter. Describing Infantino as an "infantile" figure and the foul's reversal as "dishonest, extremely stupid, ass-licking, crawling," the author alleges that the red card was conditionally rescinded. This allowed Balogun to participate in the subsequent match against Belgium.
Despite the controversial decision, the U.S. team lost to Belgium 4-1. The author views this elimination as a just consequence, stating, "Americans are out of the championship, which is only right." The piece concludes with a sense of satisfaction that even with alleged "help from an important tool," the U.S. team could not succeed.
The Americans are out of the championship, which is only right. And thank God that even the help of an important tool did not help them.
Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.