Trump's intervention has done more harm than good to US football: The Guardian

Trump's intervention has done more harm than good to US football: The Guardian

The 1962 World Cup incident involving Garrincha's red card remains a landmark in football history. The Brazilian star was sent off in the semi-final for striking an opponent. FIFA had no automatic one-match suspension rule then, so its disciplinary committee met to decide the final's fate.

A popular story suggests that the assistant referee who clearly saw Garrincha's foul was secretly paid a large sum to remain silent. Additionally, the Chilean president personally called FIFA's chief to request that no suspension be imposed on Garrincha. The then-president lobbied to keep Garrincha, one of the tournament's "entertainment stars," on the field for the final. He escaped punishment, and days later Brazil won their second World Cup.

Such absurd and unbelievable incidents might seem ancient today, but the reality is that we haven't moved far from those old days. Before the US-Belgium last-16 match, US President Donald Trump made several phone calls to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, aiming to find a way to suspend the one-match ban on US striker Folarin Balogun.

Balogun was sent off during a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on an opponent's heel. The red card sparked debate, with some believing the US was unfairly treated. While US fans were frustrated, the team was preparing to face Belgium without their key striker.

At that moment, President Trump intervened, even as the US Soccer Federation was already lobbying. Soon after Trump's involvement, Balogun's one-match suspension was postponed until after the tournament. FIFA had done similar things before the tournament for several players, but such a decision during the World Cup was unprecedented.

The reaction was a mix of celebration and outrage. While many US fans and coach Mauricio Pochettino were pleased, Belgium coach Rudi Garcia fumed, "I didn't know April Fools' Day was now celebrated in July!" The Belgian federation said it was exploring legal options.

FIFA has an explanation, though it has not been well-received. They cite a clause in their rules about suspending red cards. However, officials insist no political intervention influenced their decision.

But asking anyone to believe FIFA wasn't influenced by Trump is clearly absurd. Trump and Infantino have a long-standing relationship — a mutual interest arrangement where Trump gets his way, and Infantino gets the key to FIFA's revenue.

However, the US president fails to understand or ignores that leveraging power in this way has not helped US football. The team reached this stage on merit, with three excellent performances, and Balogun was their best player. Many experts favoured the US against Belgium even without Balogun.

But the perception that the US received an unfair advantage now taints their potential progression. This is not just a domestic issue but a global one. President Trump has become a symbol of a nation that expects special treatment everywhere. This is unfortunate for the American people, many of whom have been fighting against the perception that US football is backward and lacking in dignity. The US players were proving that notion wrong with their performances. But if they win the next match, the world may think the victory was "created" by FIFA.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken agreed that such a win would carry a question mark. After his team's 2-1 win over Brazil, he said, "I think it's a huge mistake by FIFA, a very bad decision. I feel sorry for the US. Even if they win, the match will be tainted. It's not good for football."

President Trump's intervention has also sullied the beauty of an otherwise successful World Cup. Many issues were discussed before the tournament — ticket prices, visa problems, infrastructure concerns and immigration officials at matches. Some even demanded the tournament be moved. Some problems did materialise, such as the mistreatment of Iran's team. But overall, the tournament had generated a positive perception.

In the midst of this, President Trump exerted his influence to fulfil his own wish, committing an unfair, unwanted and uncalled-for act. Perhaps he doesn't realise how great an injustice he has committed, one that will be very difficult to rectify.