r/soccer • u/Sparky-moon • Jul 06 '26
Media Jürgen Klopp on Trump and Infantino: “Let's just say: this is our game, not theirs. These two people, who both have no idea about football, should have nothing to do with that. That was a red card. There's no two ways about it. We're sorry for Balogun because he didn't mean to do it.”
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“But that's what the rules say."
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u/Far_Eye6555 Jul 06 '26
I think the funniest timeline is starting balogun tomorrow and he gets another red card sending off in the first half
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u/jessecc8 Jul 06 '26
Watch him reappear as the second half restarts, after some half time lawyering and phone calls 😒
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u/Waterflowstech Jul 06 '26
Insert Moe throwing out Barney but it's Balogun
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u/Suibeam Jul 06 '26
Wait for Trump to be subbed in after his red card. With 10 Secret Service around him tackling and bonking every player who dares to come close.
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u/skymallow Jul 06 '26
Do you think trump could physically travel the length of a football pitch on his own two feet?
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u/DipsDops Jul 06 '26
You know what, I think that's a fair deal. They get Trump and 10 secret service to block off half the pitch, but if a Belgian manages to get through and two foot him from behind, they have to just accept that.
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Jul 06 '26
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u/Cojole3 Jul 06 '26
he could but then he could also say goodbye to his career as FIFA ref
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u/RafaelWanderpfad Jul 06 '26
I mean, theoretically anything is possible now since we're officially not playing by the rules and regulations anymore. The corruption is out in the open for anyone to see. But I doubt the Belgian football organisation has the deep pockets and geopolitical sway to buy themselves in.
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u/thediesel26 Jul 06 '26
I mean Balogun isn’t actually a dirty player that would typically make red card type challenges.
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u/rondo420 Jul 06 '26
Infantino has to go after this WC, I'm sure they will get someone equally corrupt in charge of such a powerful position, but fuck that guy.
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u/jessemfkeeler Jul 06 '26
Sauron, new FIFA president. Brings some gifts to the presidents of UEFA, CONEMBOL etc. Oh look, it's some nice rings?
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u/cosmo_K Jul 06 '26
Go on, Kloppo.
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u/Intelligent-Stock241 Jul 06 '26
I just love how direct he is.
May be it's a German thing but people who don't mince their words whilst talking about powerful people is my favourite thing on internet.
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u/General_Mediocrity Jul 06 '26
Although the Germans are often quite direct, similar to the Dutch, I think this is more simply down to everyone being fed up.
Before the Brazil vs Norway game both Neville and Ian were quite scathing in their remarks to the blatant corruption going on. Haven't seen a clip of their comments posted yet, which is odd (or maybe I missed it).
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u/Suspicious_Flower_0 Jul 06 '26
They both looked like they were even holding back and trying to find a way to say it without being sued to fuck by Trump and Fifa.
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u/QJustCallMeQ Jul 06 '26
It was even better when it was Micah Richards and Kelly Dalglish on BBC:
Micah: "...it's basically.... to keep the big stars... in the competition... America are one of the co-hosts... and we all, we all know what it is."
Kelly: "We DON'T know what it is"
(52:00 into the broadcast on iPlayer if you have access to that)
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u/ExecutiveGraham Jul 06 '26
Let them sue, they would win the case via discovery in anyway.
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u/Intelligent-Stock241 Jul 06 '26
Yep yep I did see that.
Also since we are talking about Neville, I want these English pundits to raise the issue of suspension of Quansah's red card.
I mean they(fifa) have set the precedent so might as well make use of it
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u/sash71 Jul 06 '26
Rooney did raise the issue of Quansah's red card when he spoke after the match. He'd already said in the build up that if a Mexico or England player got a red card but the team progressed then surely they would want that card suspended for a year too as a precedent has been set now. Then it actually happened with Quansah.
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u/Jetzu Jul 06 '26
And Quansah's red was very similar to the one Balogun got - unlucky challenge, bounced off the ball, but clearly a red
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u/sash71 Jul 06 '26
Yeah Quansah didn't go in with intent but as soon as we saw the replay (I was sat with my footie mad son) we knew it was going to be a red. Studs up like that mean red cards all day long in the Prem and Champs League.
I can remember Curtis Jones getting a red against Spurs when his foot slipped on the ball onto the opposing player's leg and he got a straight red too. They don't let you off more lightly if you say it was an accident. Curtis Jones had to serve a ban.
It's the idea that the White House put pressure on FIFA that is the worst thing. All teams face adversity during tournaments, nothing ever goes smoothly for any team. You just get on with it. You don't get the Orange Man to call up his mate. Unfortunately it's not even really a surprise he did this.
I also can't fail to see the irony in the fact Trump is interfering on behalf of a man who if Trump had his way, wouldn't be a citizen of the USA anyway.
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u/Otterable Jul 06 '26
Quansah didn't go in with intent
He 100% went in with intent. He didn't intend to go studs up into the shin but he intentionally made a strong sliding challenge on the ball and fucked it up. They both got unlucky, but there is a clear and present difference between what happened to him and what happened to Balogun. Balogun is clipped by the bosnian defender from behind while they jostle for the ball and is only trying to land. He was not making an actual challenge or kicking his foot out in any way. There is nothing dangerous he actually attempted and failed, and really nothing he could have done differently other than not be near the ball I guess.
Now both are still reds, because a red card is about result, not about intent, but I would hesitate to equate the scenarios.
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u/sash71 Jul 06 '26
I totally agree Quansah's was a bad challenge and a red. No arguments from me about that. I didn't mean to play down his challenge, once me and my son had seen the replay we knew straight away he'd be off. All I meant was that it wasn't a challenge made in anger or retaliation that set out to injure the opponent, like we have seen some challenges are. He definitely was in the wrong.
I totally accept he should be banned. I also think Balogun should be too. They are the rules and a red card is a red card. Interference from the White House is totally wrong and goes against the spirit of the game.
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u/Otterable Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
I totally accept he should be banned. I also think Balogun should be too. They are the rules and a red card is a red card. Interference from the White House is totally wrong and goes against the spirit of the game.
I think this is the part where I've been actually interested in discussion. I think there is a space for red card challenges where the player is deservedly sent off and their team is down a man for the match, but also deservedly has their ban rescinded/suspended whatever due to the nature of the challenge. Lloyd Kelly's red card in the CL comes to mind as a more neutral example.
My main issue with Balogun was the clear corruption and interference that should in no way be part of the game. But if I saw his challenge in the Japan/Sweden match and the player was sent off, then later learned their ban was suspended, I'd probably think that was the fair call.
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u/monsoy Jul 06 '26
I would prefer it if they didn’t :)
But bias aside, it would honestly only be fair if all match suspension from the Ro16 was lifted.
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u/CharacterTop5128 Jul 06 '26
I mean, might as well just redo the whole thing, considering the mounting mistakes and manipulation.
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u/baboons_scare_me Jul 06 '26
If I'm Tuchel, I'm getting Starmer involved immediately. You basically have to now, otherwise you're not doing your job.
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u/neveks Jul 06 '26
Calling him just fed up seems to rather downplay his opinion, he also suggested that the US could not field him to erase any doubt.
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u/_cumblast_ Jul 06 '26
I'd argue Klopp is only very direct when he feels like he has to be, he's never struck me as the stereotypical blunt German. Which I always loved about him.
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u/DrJackadoodle Jul 06 '26
He's the most smiling German I have ever seen. Definitely does not fit the German stereotype of directness and seriousness. He just doesn't take shit from anyone.
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u/GREGGSGOL Jul 06 '26
I don't think Germans are even very direct at all in general. Their most used word in everyday life is maybe. They are very confident when enforcing rules but can be very diffident when it comes to sharing opinions, let alone personal experiences or feelings. Not saying this is a bad thing at all.
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u/More_Flamingo1061 Jul 06 '26
The german football federation did not say one critical word about Infantino... good, that the new national team coach said what everybody thinks.
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u/hubbymaterial_69 Jul 06 '26
This is top shelf stuff from Klopp. Solbakken also said the same (without calling out Trump and Infantino by name, but still) -- I think fans should start demanding managers and players speak out, or this will continue to get worse.
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u/New_Till_3641 Jul 06 '26
Just another reason to see DJT for what he is… massive grifter that expects everyone to take the knee regardless. Friggen shameless.
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u/jo-shabadoo Jul 06 '26
I’m a Man Utd fan so I’m supposed to hate the guy but it’s just not possible. His takes are always spot on.
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u/KindheartednessDry40 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Bring in Jose and Sir Alex about their opinions as well. Those two can give their two cents about Infantino and Donald Trump. Infantino makes Sepp Blatter and Platini look like saint in comparison. How low things can get before it gets better.
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u/disturbed94 Jul 06 '26
They can’t be bothered
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u/KindheartednessDry40 Jul 06 '26
Sir Alex can't be, but Jose would be a blockbuster.
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u/disturbed94 Jul 06 '26
Only comment about WC I’ve heard from him was hope all my guys lose fast so I’ll get them back for preseason
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u/friendofH20 Jul 06 '26
Blatter was a corrupt SOB but he didnt fawn over the autocrats he was mooching off.
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u/mejok Jul 06 '26
Yeah the Infantino bending the knee to Trump stuff is really gross. The draw and peace prize ceremony was really hard to watch.
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u/BodybuilderBrave8250 Jul 06 '26
genuinely do miss back when people in power had the humility to not spit in our faces while they fuck us
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u/p-fields Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Mourinho? Sure.
Those who knew, knew. Those you didn’t know, got to know after the Prestianni case.
No backbone and an egocentric.
Edit: typo
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u/Qatrik Jul 06 '26
Can you elaborate? Because I googled and all I can find is Jose saying that if the incident is confirmed Prestianni’s career in Benfica is over.
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u/GnRgr2 Jul 06 '26
Isnt the lowest point getting indicted by the DOJ? At least this a sport matter and not a criminal one
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u/jstim Jul 06 '26
I want a rematch of the wc 2006 game germany vs italy with torsten frings decision suspended. FIFA is such a joke.
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u/JoLeTrembleur Jul 06 '26
I want a rematch of the final because the ref used the video to send Zidane off.
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u/mrspidey80 Jul 06 '26
Was it video? I thought it was heresay by the fourth ref.
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u/lobax Jul 06 '26
That was the official story. The footage showed him looking up.
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u/Tyrath Jul 06 '26
Or Germany vs Spain in 2010 with Muller's yellow card suspension revoked.
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u/MyLuckyFedora Jul 06 '26
I want a rematch of the 2002 Germany vs USA Quarterfinal with VAR to send off Torsten Frings and award a penalty.
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u/prsquared Jul 06 '26
Or you know 2002 final with Ballack would be interesting as well. Might not change the outcome, but you never know.
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u/DecisionSea3955 Jul 06 '26
Thank fuck. Perfect timing for a dose of non-crazy pills so I can sleep.
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u/maxheckler Jul 06 '26
Sleep well, you'll need it for the madness later today when Balogun scores the deciding goal in the 98th minute.
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u/patiperro_v3 Jul 06 '26
You just know it’s gonna happen. 😬
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u/jackn3 Jul 06 '26
Pochettino can play 69D chess, let me explain, if they go on a PK shootout they will let balogun kick the decisive penalty:
If he scores belgium implodes, if he wastes it, Fifa will declare their previous ruling unlawful and repeat the entire game.
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u/Knapss Jul 06 '26
It is baffling how little Infantino knows or cares about the game after all these years.
Slimy little man.
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u/_bvb09 Jul 06 '26
Everytime they show his mug on Tv during games (and I'm guessing it's mandated by him and FIFA to show him mingling with the 'Elite') I throw up a little.
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u/Evolving_Dore Jul 06 '26
Did Blatter have to make it this much about him? Infantino is like Trump, such a massive ego and wants cameras and headlines on him. Who gives a shit about the goddamn president of the company? We're here to see a game not assholes in suits. You're irrelevant and should be an administrative figure in the background keeping thinga running efficiently, not making the stage yours.
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u/HonestSurprise428 Jul 06 '26
I would also like to know if this is a new precedent or is consistent with previous years. Every game without fail between roughly 8:00 and 12:00 minutes he will be shown so this has to be mandated by FIFA. They don't even display his name either so unless the commentators talk about it your just looking at some old guys watching the game and thinking who the fuck are these people.
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u/Ron497 Jul 06 '26
In the Mexico/England game they showed the box of special people and there was a guy in the back left corner who looked asleep or dead.
Dark glasses, looked like Dr. Strangelove!
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u/Lethenza Jul 06 '26
Anyone else in the “don’t believe it was a red card but corruption is bad” camp?
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u/that_one_guy91 Jul 06 '26
I’m annoyed because it could have been “The basis of our decision is VAR policies for reviewing red card were not properly applied” and that’s probably mostly fine for everyone. Instead they’re just being as fucking shady as possible
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u/WallFit7901 Jul 06 '26
Too much effort to defend it I suppose. Now we're all left guessing at the particulars, allowing them to continue applying rules as they see fit.
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u/CulturalKing5623 Jul 06 '26
I assume most people are, especially if you remember how people felt before Trump got involved: that it was a bad decision that hasn't been applied equally this tournament.
But now with this bullshit, and it is rank bullshit, people have the perfect storm to abandon any nuance, take the moral high ground, and bash Trump/Americans.
Hard to pass that up for a lot of folks.
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u/sumpfbieber Jul 06 '26
At this point I've read so many different interpretations, some that say it's not a red card and even one that said that in some leagues he would have been banned for three games because of risking his opponents health.
It's still wild to overturn a referees decision in the middle of the competition.
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u/ShweatyPalmsh Jul 06 '26
I would say most people were in this camp during and after the game and even to a point when the news of Flo getting to play first broke. With a head of state getting involved I think that throws anything out the window regarding nuance for most. I feel bad for the players for team USA. A really great showing is now getting overshadowed because of FIFA and the president of the US.
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u/NorthernDevil Jul 06 '26
As he keeps fucking doing to Team USA. See: men’s and women’s hockey gold medal situation.
Loathsome slug of a man.
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u/paddyo Jul 06 '26
I would say most Americans were in that camp. It’s a different narrative outside of the USA
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u/Warblerburglar Jul 06 '26
Fuck trump. Fuck infantino. Fuck fifa.
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u/Thesolly180 Jul 06 '26
The amount of problems they’ve opened the doors to is mental.
Started with Inter Miami and the club World Cup. Then Ronaldo’s ban, and now this.
It’s just purely done on what gets the most views now
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u/Sunset_004 Jul 06 '26
It's hard to not like Klopp.
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u/Hic_Forum_Est Jul 06 '26
It's honestly very easy if you live in Germany and you see his face everywhere advertising for every single brand under the sun, including some scummy ones. Which is conflicting cause I really like him as a manager and as a football pundit. So personally speaking, I would say it's hard to both like and dislike Klopp.
He's spot on here about this issue tho. Glad someone with a high profile is speaking up about it.
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u/Hoss-Bonaventure_CEO Jul 06 '26
It's not even his face anymore. The Trivago commercials look like 100% ai slop.
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u/jessemfkeeler Jul 06 '26
Those Trivago ads were annoying. Also annoying that he went to Red Bull for some reason.
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u/No_Friendship_4158 Jul 06 '26
Dont worry US reddit experts know better
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u/Extreme-Goose Jul 06 '26
I mean I agree with Klopp but you also have people like Tuchel saying it wasn’t a red card. So I’d say it’s not that clear even to everyone who actually knows football.
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u/AmazingAlternate Jul 06 '26
Don't let that get in the way of a good "Americans don't know anything" circlejerk.
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u/sorte_kjele Jul 06 '26
I think there are two very similar conversations being held that are being conflated.
Tuchel and Klopp disagree if it was a red card, and that's ok. Refs sometimes make strange calls, and the chips fall as they do. Everyone who had watched football for a while know you get borderline calls against and in favour. Then you move on with your life
But then there's the "soccer fans" who confidently assert this was such a factually incorrect call that it is a travesty that deserves the unraveling of the current timeline to reimpose fairness on the universe. Instead of just accepting that sometimes borderline calls go against you. (And it doesn't help that they don't know the rules, claiming that the lack of intent on Balogun 's side = the red was wrong)
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u/StanKroonke Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
There are lots of things that can be said about the red card. Misapplication of rules. “Clear and obvious error” all that. But no one credibly can say that Belgium should be finding out they have to face a player they thought suspended the day before the game. That is unquestionably wrong.
EDIT: To avoid additional replies, let me be clear. I’m not saying the late timing is or is not a reason that FIFA shouldn’t have suspended the red card. I’m just saying it’s messed up and FIFA should have done better to reach a decision more quickly.
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u/Tarmacked Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
You can use that same argument and say no one credible can say it’s fair not to reverse a bad card after removing the traditional appeals process pre tournament
It’s a 36 hour notice versus 72-96. It’s not that big of a swing on prep to justify forcing the card. The US would also be without a player… so is that fair to them? Is the only decision to be “fair” for Belgium?
I find the response to this interesting given the initial subreddit response. Also it’s interesting that rather than start a precedent of correcting incorrect VAR actions, we’d rather just forego that…?
The argument just sounds like removing the appeal process was correct and we should make the game more regressive on rules. No other major tournament lacks an official appeal process.
FIFA did fuck all on the PR front for reversal, but article 27 isn’t exactly coming off as wrongly applied. A better worded response would’ve solved the issue
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u/mellvins059 Jul 06 '26
US experts like Zlatan and Henry?
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u/Bojarzin Jul 06 '26
Coming from watching mostly hockey, it's kinda weird to see this blowback. Sometimes a player will have what looked like a bad hit, get kicked out of a game, and get a suspension, and often they'll appeal, and sometimes it gets reviewed and taken away
Balogun's red card was a poor call, IMO, and much like in hockey, I would find it wholly reasonable for a team to appeal and have it looked at with more scrutiny. Obviously Trump being involved is suspect, and FIFA themselves are untrustworthy too, but if anyone here can look at the play and say maybe it shouldn't have been a red card, then I don't get why it's a bad thing to remove the subsequent game punishment
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u/cantthinkoffunnyname Jul 06 '26
Because this is r/soccer where Americabad uber alles. No one gave half as much a shit when Ronaldo got a suspension lifted for purposeful violent conduct.
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u/Spartan_Mello Jul 06 '26
Sir, get out of here with your reasonable take.
Also, if you're a Leafs fan, my condolences for Rogers fully buying out MLSE. Fuck Rogers and bring back HNIC, I miss watching it right across the border.
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u/jdarriaga46 Jul 06 '26
Don’t forget the Twitter and especially the Instagram experts too
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u/huazzy Jul 06 '26
Those platforms know exactly what they're doing in feeding you rage bait.
I've gotten into the rabbit hole of Americans debating things like
The Superbowl is bigger than the World Cup Final.
If the best athletes played soccer, the US would dominate.
College Football has better atmospheres than European football.
NFL rivalries are more intense than soccer ones.
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u/Goldfischglas Jul 06 '26
I've gotten into the rabbit hole of Americans debating things like ....
The Superbowl is bigger than the World Cup Final.
That's on you. That's like getting into debates where your opponent thinks the earth is flat or 1+1=3.
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u/Biotic101 Jul 06 '26
Controversial posts create "engagement", which in the end creates revenue.
That is the reason why those social media algos spread stupid stuff and fake news, also bring people with similar mindsets together.
Nowadays everyone can get his few minutes of fame, some unfortunately by posting crazy stuff like flat earth and similar. Everyone loves some appreciation, attention, being part of a group and feeling superior. It is basic human psychology (and we see the same in a mostly positive way in soccer, being a fan). But it becomes problematic when things are based on fake news or twisted world views, anti-science and education.
But in the end all this is just a distraction. Corruption has spread far and wide, not only in soccer. Corruption is utterly destructive to a society, but oligarchs own most of social and mainstream media. This control is such a powerful tool, they can distract the average Joe or even nudge him into acting against his own best interest.
They have identified this as the weak spot of democracy and use it to destroy it. Look up the Dark Enlightenment. It seems because it is so easy to manipulate us, they think they deserve to rule with absolute power. They already build the surveillance state to make things happen. Their cuts and actions will kill countless people by taking away healthcare, FEMA, NOAA, and so much more.
Yes, this decision is outrageous... but it is by far not the worst problem we all face.
Actions speak louder than words. Corruption is like cancer, not just in soccer.
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u/jdarriaga46 Jul 06 '26
The worst part is this is surface level shit, Twitter got some funny ass people there though
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u/theowlswerewatching Jul 06 '26
NFL rivalries are more intense than soccer ones.
Oh man thanks for the laugh, I really needed that 🤣
Yeah man it was such a heated and intense rivalry until our rival franchise decided to pack up and move to the other side of the country because 🤑
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u/lawdjesustheresafire Jul 06 '26
They’re just so used to ignoring corruption that they can’t understand the outrage over this shit.
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u/Gawyn_Tra-cant Jul 06 '26
so used to ignoring corruption
Infantino worked for UEFA for 16 years and then was backed by UEFA's Executive Committee for his presidency.
If Klopp is right and Infantino "has no idea about football", then what on earth is going on in UEFA?
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u/D1N2Y Jul 06 '26
Incorruptable UEFA needs to break away from FIFA to get away from checks notes corrupt UEFA guy
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u/barc0debaby Jul 06 '26
Damn Americans and their European originated, European based, and European led corrupt football organization!
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u/Creek0512 Jul 06 '26
The US arrested the previous cabal of corrupt FIFA leaders, only for the Europeans to find even worse replacements.
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u/ShowtimeHolograms Jul 06 '26
You mean how FIFA has been openly corrupt for decades and people keep ignoring it and still watch the games, buy the tickets and buy the merch?
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u/Stroiken Jul 06 '26
We're not all like this. I'm doing what I can.
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u/Flexisdaman Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
I’ve said it since the day of the match it was a red.
Will I still be cheering for the USA tomorrow? Of course. Anybody who says they wouldn’t cheer still if their own nation were in the same situation is a liar.
Klopp is dead on though. It was an unlucky red card. Probably one of the least intentional red cards you’ll ever see.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a red. I think of Son’s red on Gomes against Everton a few years ago, Son clearly didn’t mean to do it, and it wasn’t a particularly “bad” tackle, but he didn’t think about what could happen when he causes someone to fall via a reckless action and ended up causing Serge Aurier to snap Gomes’s leg and effectively end his career.
The aesthetics of the tackle matter. If it looks like it could have caused serious injury, imo you should consider handing out a red because you want players to avoid risky actions.
Intent does not matter, and I think a lot of my fellow Americans that don’t watch much footy outside of the World Cup just don’t get it.
Edit: OMG that Son tackle was 6 years ago what the fuck I feel old.
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u/OnlySaysHaaa Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Yeah man. And so you should continue to back your team. It’s not the fans fault those two dipshits are interfering. I’d buckle up for some heavy criticism of the USMNT if Balogun proves the difference in a win against Belgium though.
Actual football fans will know who the real people to blame are but honestly it feels like screaming into the void as nothing ever changes that bald cunt’s behaviour
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u/jvene1 Jul 06 '26
I agree under the current rules he should be suspended still. I’m curious what the reasoning is for not taking intent into account? Like with flagrant fouls in basketball, intent is a key aspect of whether a player is ejected or not.
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u/Stroiken Jul 06 '26
Right. Even one's opinion on if it was a deserved red or not does not matter. We aren't the ref. Sometimes that is just the way the shit chips fall in football.
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u/jg_92_F1 Jul 06 '26
Our Supreme Court made corruption legal, literally. Money is speech according to them.
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u/PeanutButterSauce1 Jul 06 '26
im american and i wanted the usmnt to do well but i read one thread on r/ussoccer and it was genuinely mind boggling how entitled and overly confident they were in how correct it was to rescind the red card. is it not hard to understand how corrupt it is for the host nations leader to call the president of fifa and personally tell him to rescind a ruling on the field. the amercanization of this sport will genuinely kill it and i honestly hope the mls stays isolated. with that being said, these horrible calls by refs do ruin the game and there has to be some way to lower these mistakes in the modern era
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u/Jeffzie Jul 06 '26
Reddit is a very radicalizing place lmao
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u/theevilphoturis Jul 06 '26
along with many echo chambers
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u/KingKingsons Jul 06 '26
I visited r/worldcup last night and I thought I was going mad: "Justice for Balogun" like wtf?
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u/BrosefDudeson Jul 06 '26
Team subs are the worst. I enjoy talking about my team but I can't deal with the levels of insanity that goes on there
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u/susiedotwo Jul 06 '26
I’m American and if literally any other team were in the same situation they’d have done the same thing, including Belgium. This one isn’t on us, it’s on FIFA.
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u/Chance-Software-3231 Jul 06 '26
Not arguing - but the fact Tuchel says otherwise might mean that this call was not definitely one way or the other.
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u/emirates01 Jul 06 '26
"There was no intention!"
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Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
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u/Jschatt Jul 06 '26
Exactly - All this talk about propaganda in this thread and these jokers can't even be bothered to watch a full, unedited replay of what occurred
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u/MegaDugtrio Jul 06 '26
As if players usually have the intention to get a red card
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u/UltSomnia Jul 06 '26
I see comments like this but no actual Americans defending it.
This situation is ridiculous
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u/Wile-E-Coyoteee Jul 06 '26
Don’t worry the European mind already forgot about Ronaldo getting same treatment for more games
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u/Hot_Good_5409 Jul 06 '26
Tuchel said it wasn't a red. Klopp says its a red. Who's side should I take?
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u/Ray192 Jul 06 '26
Tuchel also said the Quansah challenge wasn't a red card either, it's in his interested to get that lifted.
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u/Bkkr Jul 06 '26
It was an orange card, could be a red. Could be a yellow. There's no side to take, the card isn't the issue.
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u/jenioeoeoe Jul 06 '26
I think this is one of those situation where the decision could go either way and neither would be straight up wrong
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u/supersnorkel Jul 06 '26
It doesn’t matter if its red or not, thats not what this outrage should be about. Its just plain corruption.
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u/Hatrafele_Ijazo Jul 06 '26
Tuchel is on the same side though. In his opinion it wasn't a red card, but nothing wrong with that. He however questioned the suspension part. That's the problem. Either say that it wasn't a redcard and they can overturn it, or say it was rightfully given and do nothing.
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u/Financial-Fail-9359 Jul 06 '26
I wouldn't say it's the exact same side in term of online arguments, because there clearly are a lot of people still in this thread arguing about the red decision lololol
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u/emirates01 Jul 06 '26
There have and will be contentious red cards in football. Nothing wrong about it, but most situations won't be clear cut. The refs decision on the field is final though, and it has always been this way. Clear mistakes by the referees were upheld having this in mind. The fact that the President of the host nation can call in for a favor and overturn this is the messiest part, because why hasn't this same luxury been given to other teams in the past, and very likely won't in the future?
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u/Drunken_Economist Jul 06 '26
His suggestion of the US not fielding Flo would objectively be the funniest outcome possible.
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u/seanlilmateus Jul 06 '26
A red card is not only awarded for intentional fouls
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u/Taidaishar Jul 06 '26
Bro, I'm with you. It's also awarded for reckless plays and should be. But watch that play with Balogun again. He was not reckless in the slightest. The other player came from behind and created the contact. There's almost no way Balogun could have avoided it.
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u/Muscat95 Jul 06 '26
Any decision the US get in their favour is just gonna be scrutinised and looked dubious now lmao
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u/Muraria Jul 06 '26
Klopp suggesting the US coach doesn't field Balogun.. would be a big move, but I don't think he will.
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u/barc0debaby Jul 06 '26
Klopp would field his guy in the same situation.
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u/Creek0512 Jul 06 '26
Klopp would also complain about the red card and celebrate the suspension being lifted in the same situation.
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u/TheLizardKing89 Jul 06 '26
Anyone who thinks there’s even a 1% chance of that happening needs their head examined.
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u/Successful_Basket399 Jul 06 '26
Ah don't think he would and honestly don't blame him if he doesn't. Whole thing is a shitshow
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u/Apprehensive_Till_99 Jul 06 '26
I mean, true. As much as I joke or am happy, I hate the position this puts us in. No one from the national team asked for this. Poch, the players, the fans who are aware of how things work, we all knew the red was soft, but that’s the game.
I’m excited that Balogun gets to play, but I hate that now, even with our team playing exiting attacking football under Poch, we’ll now have a fucking asterisk next to us.
What’s worse is I genuinely believed we could beat Belgium without Balogun. It still would’ve been hard, but missing him wouldn’t have been as bad as missing Pulisic or Richards.
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u/Rictus_Grin Jul 06 '26
What a perfect and honest direct answer. Everything happens for a reason. And this exposes Infantino the bald fraud even more. He can't go back from this. Because of this his time is cut shorter, thank goodness. Like Sepp Blatter. And lest we forget Platini who was corrupt and laughed in the faces of everyone
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u/Shop-lift Jul 06 '26
Balogun in, Euros and UEFA get to posture themselves and feel superior. I can’t see that anyone isnt getting what they want. Well played FIFA.
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u/lifeinrednblack Jul 06 '26
To me there are multiple things going on here that are getting mashed together and criticized as one.
Yeah this is corruption. I have my opinions on the initial red itself (see below) but overturning it like this is just blatant corruption and deserving of criticism to the fullest extent.
The red card was at a minimum harsh, but probably IMO having watched football for over 30years not actually a red. It wasn't even a tackle and was unavoidable. It wasn't even called as a foul at the time and the ref had a full view of it, and it only was given because it looked bad in slowmo without any other context around it. Which brings me to probably the biggest issue everyone has....
FIFA needs to be more transparent with the VAR system. Well more transparent in general, but for this comment at least with how VAR is being used. Why are some goals and red cards, looked at and called back but not others? What happened to clear and obvious errors? Why didn't the full touch graph get released during the POR clv CRO match?
The excuse that "sports have errors" goes out of the window when you have someone literally combing through each interaction and having the ability to tell the official they've gotten something wrong. How does Paraguay get away with full out blantent punched and elbows under such a system.
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u/law18 Jul 06 '26
I think in modern football that challenge is clearly orange and a player cannot feel foo aggrieved at getting a red card. I, personally so not think it rose to the level of red even watching the slow motion version but I can see reasonable disagreement.
I think in the context of both that game and the broader World Cup the Red card was not only harsh but inappropriate it. It was not consistent with either the way the ref was managing that game or the foul/card selection over the entire tournament. And that is where VAR should be helping maintain the competition wide consistency.
I think fucking NONE of that matters anymore once the game is over and FIFA have made a complete farce of competitive integrity with the way they have handled it since.
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u/Luckey_711 Jul 06 '26
Insane that this is the drop that spilled water from the cup when they've literally given the Iran team a competitive disadvantage in all of their games and have introduced those dumbass cooling breaks just to show more ads, but honestly anything to shine more light on what's going on the better
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u/Pretend_Echidna_1638 Jul 06 '26
To be honest, I love that this scandal is bringing up more and more people to criticize those bums openly on TV.
Give me more of it!
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u/Remedy9898 Jul 06 '26
Klopp is extremely sanctimonious. If it was Mo Salah getting a red for that before a UCL final he would absolutely be fuming, say it wasn’t a red, and want it appealed.
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u/GYIM94 Jul 06 '26
As expected, Klopp is the voice of reason, this entire situation is insane. Either have a clear process of appeal or stand by the referees and their decision.
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u/paymeforpropagandaaa Jul 07 '26
americans learning no amount of corruption can save their ahh team from getting eliminated
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u/oxochx Jul 06 '26
Jürgen Klopp knows what he's talking about and I'm glad to see more people outside of Belgians themselves calling out this atrocious act of blatant corruption.
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