Once the ref confirmed Balogun's studs went down the ankle, that was a red card. For this tournament only, that action gets a red regardless of context.

The issue is that the interaction was 0% deliberate - Balogun didn't see him before putting leg out & transferring weight bc the opponent ran in from his blind spot.

I think if the ref was allowed discretion, this wouldn't have been a red during the game.. and hopefully FIFA remembers this and stops taking away ref discretion in future tournaments. Thus Trump calling wasn't some sort of wild crazymaking -- IMHO it gave FIFA a chance/an excuse to remedy their own mistake which even the commentators explained during the game.

@texasag1969 said:

Argentina has the best clutch player in a generation. Messi is not just a great scorer, he's a great dribbler and a great passer with either foot as this demonstrates against England yesterday.

that shit was fun yesterday, also on the 3rd vs whoever they played was also epic, And I do not watch soccer

@dutch-oven said:

Apparently there's a good Netflix(?) doc on FIFA's corruption.

I don't get into the futbol either, I think the only World Cup game I've watched in entirety was when Italy won back in '06 I think before watching the U.S. game that knocked them out last Monday night.

Argentina has the best clutch player in a generation. Messi is not just a great scorer, he's a great dribbler and a great passer with either foot as this demonstrates against England yesterday.

@orion said:

Because I'm retired, this is the only soccer I've really ever watched or paid any attention to. And I didn't watch that much. I've really got no interest in soccer.

Apparently there's a good Netflix(?) doc on FIFA's corruption.

I don't get into the futbol either, I think the only World Cup game I've watched in entirety was when Italy won back in '06 I think before watching the U.S. game that knocked them out last Monday night.

@dutch-oven said:

I'm kind of shocked it took you that long to lose respect for FIFA.

Because I'm retired, this is the only soccer I've really ever watched or paid any attention to. And I didn't watch that much. I've really got no interest in soccer.

@dutch-oven said:

I'm kind of shocked it took you that long to lose respect for FIFA.

Them pairing up with Trump to be corrupt is pretty much on-brand for them.

I vaguely remember a corruption scandal involving FIFA. Just looked it up and it was in 2015.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_FIFA_corruption_case

@orion said:

I'm 100% Portagee, and I couldn't believe they overturned that goal. And then when Trump, who didn't even know what a red card was, got them to overturn the call, I lost all respect for FIFA.

@dutch-oven said:

I'm kind of shocked it took you that long to lose respect for FIFA.

Them pairing up with Trump to be corrupt is pretty much on-brand for them.

Well, somehow that pairing could not prevent a 4-1 embarrassment for the US team.

@orion said:

I'm 100% Portagee, and I couldn't believe they overturned that goal. And then when Trump, who didn't even know what a red card was, got them to overturn the call, I lost all respect for FIFA.

I'm kind of shocked it took you that long to lose respect for FIFA.

Them pairing up with Trump to be corrupt is pretty much on-brand for them.

@nickers said:

one phantom(Hair folicles) touched the ball ruling that would've tied the game

I'm 100% Portagee, and I couldn't believe they overturned that goal. And then when Trump, who didn't even know what a red card was, got them to overturn the call, I lost all respect for FIFA.

@ibleedbrown said:

Norway v. England going in to extra time. Rooting for Norway here.

Well, we are headed to Liverpool tomorrow for the British Open. I already found a place to watch the game.

The people were so pumped in Norway for their team and got let down. Seriously reminded me of the Marty Browns Era.

Norway is truly beautiful, glad we went. Scenery beyond belief, people very friendly.

Funny moment was we were on a hiking trail, I had my Tribe hat on. Some guy said hello, turns out he lives 3 miles from me in Middleburg Heights, that was crazy!!!

@ibleedbrown said:

I’m sure there’s a Swiss cheese defense joke in there somewhere.

LOL! Well, they were having to play a man down, so there's that.

@texasag1969 said:

Argentina shows why they win world cups. 2 goals in the 2nd overtime to beat the Swiss 3-1.

I’m sure there’s a Swiss cheese defense joke in there somewhere.

@dutch-oven said:

They played with one less player than Mexico? Why?

I didn't know there was a power play in soccer. I'm so confused.

Player got red carded for excessive brutality trying to take a ball away. When you get a red card you are ejected and the team is not eligible for a replacement player. They do this to minimize purposefully trying to take out another team's player with a sacrificial player that can be replaced. So when England got a red card to a player, they had to play a man down from that point on. Pretty good rule actually.

@texasag1969 said:

England's win over Mexico in Aztec stadium a man down most of the second half was amazing!!

They played with one less player than Mexico? Why?

I didn't know there was a power play in soccer. I'm so confused.

@texasag1969 said:

England's win over Mexico in Aztec stadium a man down most of the second half was amazing!!

I didn’t watch but from what l gather England is a powerhouse. I watched most of the France/Morocco match in a bar before the Reds game yesterday.

Morocco scored just as many points as the Reds. And yes, l know they’re runs in baseball. I don’t want lectures from anyone. Regardless, when you score zero, you’re gonna lose, lol.

@bob806 said:

We are in Norway right now, it's amazing ( Ullensvang) in the Hardangerfjord region. The place is going nuts over their soccer. The win over Brazil would be like a Browns win over the Chiefs lol.

I'm a little biased of course, but I think a Browns SB run would top their enthusiasm.

The thing I absolutely hate about soccer ( and hockey) is the offsides rule. It's the anti-equivalent of the NFL rule changes protecting QBs & WRs.

Heading to England for the British Open Sunday. I'm sure if England is still alive in the World Cup things will get crazy.

That’s so cool Bob, what a time to be there. Have a blast on the rest of the trip!

@orion said:

The rule is in place to prevent Cherry Picking.

My 3 sons keep telling me that.

It's just weird an imaginary line is a defender, if that makes any sense how I explained it

@bob806 said:

The thing I absolutely hate about soccer ( and hockey) is the offsides rule.

The rule is in place to prevent Cherry Picking. Enjoy your trip!!!

I'm a little biased of course, but I think a Browns SB run would top their enthusiasm.

The thing I absolutely hate about soccer ( and hockey) is the offsides rule. It's the anti-equivalent of the NFL rule changes protecting QBs & WRs.

Heading to England for the British Open Sunday. I'm sure if England is still alive in the World Cup things will get crazy.