Gina Intheburg 🇺🇦 🌻 🥥🌴@ginaintheburg@mastodon.world

Trump Asks #FIFA to Review US Player’s Suspension. Now He Can Play

For the 1st time since 1962, FIFA's reversed a red card decision during the World Cup.
nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/trum

#FIFA Gianni Infantino's been kissing up Trump, so ez call by The Grifter.

I saw the incident & the instant replay.

Not a soccer expert, but Balogun forcefully threw his whole body against Muharemović, which to a novice like me looked like a dangerous, risky move likely to cause injury. Is that allowed in #soccer?

President Trump received the first FIFA Peace Prize from the head of the soccer governing body, Gianni Infantino, in December.www.nytimes.comTrump Asked FIFA to Review U.S. Player’s Suspension. Now He’s Eligible to Play.The reversal of Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension is highly unusual. It was the first time since 1962 that FIFA has nullified a suspension for a red card received during the World Cup.
Gina Intheburg 🇺🇦 🌻 🥥🌴@ginaintheburg@mastodon.world

Replying to @RVLara23@mastodon.social

@RVLara23 @mastodonmigration

I think it was a red card. My understanding is a player is expected that once it feels it's made contact w/a body part - & the ankle is a particularly fragile body part plus what else that wasn't the flat ground would he have been in contact w/ - the player is obligated to not bring continued, even increased force (which is exactly what it looks like Balogun did). It looks to me like he didn't exhibit the requisite awareness of his environment or his body.

Jul 6, 2026, 00:25 UTCen
Grassroots Joe@joeinwynnewood@mstdn.social

Replying to @ginaintheburg@mastodon.world

@ginaintheburg @RVLara23 @mastodonmigration

Re: the player is obligated to not bring continued, even increased force (which is exactly what it looks like Balogun did).

That's not what I saw in real time. I saw him take weight off his foot as soon as he realized it wasn't on the ground. If he didn't, that ankle would have been seriously damaged if not broken.
Remember that reaction time is required between sensing something and getting the muscles to act in response to the conscious command.

Gina Intheburg 🇺🇦 🌻 🥥🌴@ginaintheburg@mastodon.world

Replying to @joeinwynnewood@mstdn.social

@joeinwynnewood @RVLara23 @mastodonmigration

I saw something different. I saw him press his foot down harder on Muharemović's foot after making contact with it - all I saw was the play itself & an instant replay, which showed a view from behind of the 2 of them in the play that got Balogun red carded. It looked to me, a novice fan, to be a risky move not taking into acct the potential for injury to Muharemović & that Balogun even sought to take advantage of the fact he was pinning him down.

Grassroots Joe@joeinwynnewood@mstdn.social

Replying to @ginaintheburg@mastodon.world

@ginaintheburg @RVLara23 @mastodonmigration

Think about your own movements. Ever accidentally step on a pets foot or on dog poop?
What happens between the time you register that your foot isn't on solid ground like you thought it would be and you are able to shift your weight enough to pull it up off your pet or the, ugh, smelly poop?
Depending on your stance, too often putting more not less weight on it, especially if you're off balance or looking elsewhere, as Balogun was.

Gina Intheburg 🇺🇦 🌻 🥥🌴@ginaintheburg@mastodon.world

Replying to @joeinwynnewood@mstdn.social

@joeinwynnewood @RVLara23 @mastodonmigration

I usually pretty instantaneously step out of the mess. I have good reflexes (or I did when I was younger). I expect a Tier 1 athlete like Balogun to have even better reflexes. And after all the games he's played, I expect him to know when he's stepped on someone.

I saw the replay from the rear, behind them when the incident occurred. Balogun's foot touched Muharemović's ankle. He hesitated a split moment and then he pressed his foot down harder.