Incredible but true. The direct red card issued to American player Folarin Balogun for trampling on a Bosnian player has been rescinded by FIFA. FIFA President, the Italian Gianni Infantino, bowed to the whims of U.S. President Donald Trump, who supposedly either made a phone call or used some other form of influence. The fact remains that, for the first time in two and a half centuries of existence, such a decision has been taken. It goes without saying that FIFA’s attitude has scandalized not only the football world but also the political sphere. Donald Trump has shown that he is the master of the world and that even the all-powerful FIFA bows down to him. This is hardly surprising, considering the United States has invested the largest budget, with eleven stadiums compared to two and three for Canada and Mexico respectively. Had he been president when FIFA designated the host countries for this 2026 World Cup, he would never have accepted this three-way partnership. We are all too aware of his feelings toward Canada and Mexico, whom he courts either by choice or by force through customs duties.
Gianni Infantino obeys his every command. To the point of accepting cooling breaks that are completely unjustified, given there is no heatwave and some stadiums are covered and air-conditioned.
This is simply a revival of an old idea: moving from 2 x 45 minutes to 3 x 30 minutes. This was precisely the case during the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The goal is to squeeze in as many commercials as possible during the two 10-minute breaks.
With 2 x 3-minute cooling breaks, FIFA, a non-profit association, is raking in an astronomical fortune. Twenty seconds of advertising costs Fox Sports $750,000, while M6 pays $315,000 for twenty seconds—a figure that will rise to $425,000 as the competition progresses.
FIFA collects a massive windfall from sponsorships, advertising, and especially broadcasting rights. And it makes spectators pay with ticket prices that have caused quite a stir.
As for the referees, FIFA’s choices are baffling. Judges are coming from countries where football remains a mere pastime, such as Somalia, Uzbekistan, the Cayman Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Maldives… How can one be a good referee if the country does not even have a league? Some are better suited for taekwondo or MMA.
The power of money is killing the values of football, which once made it the king of sports. Proof of this is that it is the least-watched World Cup globally, and it is followed far from the passion of the 90, 94, and 98 World Cups… The king is truly dead.
Sylvain Ranjalahy
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-07 07:13:08 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/mafiafifa.html