WORLD CUP 2026 THREAD

[Pablo]

Well, I don't know if that's a jab thrown at me, but I coached youth soccer for 12+ years, I am a former certified referee, I have attended Team USA games in person, and incidentally my son is a high school soccer coach.

I kinda "know soccer".

Definitely NOT directed at you. Sorry and I edited my post to make that clear.

 

[RBT]

They do, technically. Before this year, the last one was in 1962. 64 years ago.

Ok that is fair. What was the process or rationale for revoking or otherwise altering Ronaldo’s red card?

 

[tcp71]

Looks like a renewal of an old conflict:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_activity_in_the_British_Isles

 

[gfh77665]

Ok that is fair. What was the process or rationale for revoking or otherwise altering Ronaldo’s red card?

Ronaldo is Ronaldo.

That's all the justification they needed.

 

[buster]

Any U.S. victory will now be tainted.

 

[y_p_w]

Ok that is fair. What was the process or rationale for revoking or otherwise altering Ronaldo’s red card?

Same rule (Article 27). But I think the reference was to the last World Cup where a suspension was reduced. Ronaldo got his severe 3 match suspension reduced to 1 and that was served in a qualifier that Portugal didn’t need.

 

[goblin]

Bah. If pulling a shirt was a red card offense there will be three people left on the field.

Tainted or not - Argentina got to one of their trophies by playing Handball. Little did it do to their statistics. It classified Maradona as a weakling in my book, but little did I see anyone caring about it

There's so much injustice in soccer, if I had to settle for "untainted" stuff I'd be like my friend's kid who graduated from college and still won't apply for any job that involves big corporations or uses software that is not open license, basically still looking for that job at a magical non-profit that would match his ideals and would run exclusively on Linux, Mailcow and Libre Office, but not Red Hat Linux please.

 

[RBT]

Ronaldo is Ronaldo.

That's all the justification they needed.

Not from a rules perspective. Is there another differentiator?

 

[RBT]

Same rule (Article 27). But I think the reference was to the last World Cup where a suspension was reduced. Ronaldo got his severe 3 match suspension reduced to 1 and that was served in a qualifier that Portugal didn’t need.

Thanks. That is helpful
In terms of understanding how this is different and potentially inappropriate.

 

[Pablo]

Any U.S. victory will now be tainted. Done deal. Crossed a line. Ruined it.

Bah. If pulling a shirt was a red card offense there will be three people left on the field.

Tainted or not - Argentina got to one of their trophies by playing Handball. Little did it do to their statistics. It classified Maradona as a weakling in my book, but little did I see anyone caring about it

There's so much injustice in soccer................

Indeed crocodile tears.

Exactly. So far I don't think we have seen an "untainted" match. "Taint" is just a stupid word thrown out because of dislike of a certain person.

Actually the match will be tainted if USA can't field a full squad with Balogun.

 

[goblin]

I'd actually love to see the US winning with Balgun resting on the bench for the whole game to save him for the next one, just for the middle finger it would be, but that would be in no Red Hat Linux territory

 

[y_p_w]

Thanks. That is helpful
In terms of understanding how this is different and potentially inappropriate.

It was certainly a reduction of a more severe penalty. Additionally, the original suspension was to be served partially during the World Cup.

The complaint seems to be that the red card was given during the World Cup with the suspension to be served during the World Cup.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

View attachment 346607

Looks like a renewal of an old conflict:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_activity_in_the_British_Isles

If Norway wins the match, will central and northern England go back to Danelaw?

 

[goblin]

Google Harald Anton Schumacher Battiston

 

[RBT]

It was certainly a reduction of a more severe penalty. Additionally, the original suspension was to be served partially during the World Cup.

The complaint seems to be that the red card was given during the World Cup with the suspension to be served during the World Cup.

Right, again that makes sense.

Is there any chance that Belgium’s objections could be dealt with today? Transparency would be great here.

It’s a shame this is casting controversy on what has been a terrific event. Took the boys to the France v Iraq game in Philly and it was great. Officiating is never perfect but my questions stem from not wanting to see this terrific sports event be yet another forum to argue differences about the current White House resident. Sports should never be about politics.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

Is there any chance that Belgium’s objections could be dealt with today? Transparency would be great here...

They have been dealt with. Appropriately rejected.

 

[goblin]

I think it would help if it was mandatory during a VAR review to watch the event at least once at full speed, once at half, and then deal with spreading a 0.5s event onto a 30s reel.

 

[y_p_w]

Right, again that makes sense.

Is there any chance that Belgium’s objections could be dealt with today? Transparency would be great here.

It’s a shame this is casting controversy on what has been a terrific event. Took the boys to the France v Iraq game in Philly and it was great. Officiating is never perfect but my questions stem from not wanting to see this terrific sports event be yet another forum to argue differences about the current White House resident. Sports should never be about politics.

Their appeal was rejected on the grounds that Belgium isn’t a party to the controversy.

 

[Japanese]

Grabbing the guys shirt was unintentional? Whats next USA looses and phone call for a rematch.

That is quite common at soccer games. Many times it's not even called. It's considered fighting for the ball. Stepping over the other guy's ankle with the studs got him the red card. But he was landing after a jump, so he couldn't do much. It was a fighting for the ball and the ball was not in possession of either team.

However, I accept the shoulder bump by the president mainly for these reasons:

- the red card was controversial (although an English player got red card for very similar situation yesterday)
- US are hosts and hosts (and big teams too) are usually favored in one way or another just to keep the crowd interested
- politics are part of the game (especially at world cups) for quite some time—a good 40-50 years the least

 

[Pablo]

I think it would help if it was mandatory during a VAR review to watch the event at least once at full speed, once at half, and then deal with spreading a 0.5s event onto a 30s reel.

There must be a better balance.

Was Sir Harry Kane's leg contact a penalty? YES. Does it make heck of a lot of sense in hot battle context?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I mean you guys want to fight?

How was Mexico given 11 minutes added time? That seemed 4-5+ minutes host bonus.







I had to do it. I know, door that way.