Politics At Play In World Cup

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One Caribbean Nation.

A THORNY

ISSUE  

by Andi Thornhill   

Politics at play in World Cup

IT WAS ONLY a matter of time before geopolitics entered the World Cup.

Donald Trump, largely a spectator, found it difficult to keep his mouth quiet when the United States had to play in the last 16. By his own admission, he asked that red-carded Folarin Balogun be given a chance to play just because he was too good a player to miss the match. Whether true or not, all he had to do was to give FIFA president Gianni Infantino a call and the issue was settled.

The injustice of the move, questioned by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) and others fell on death ears.

Trump had spoken and that was that.

It didn’t start there.

FIFA had also agreed to give Cristiano Ronaldo a free pass before the World Cup, lifting a suspension for the first game in this campaign.

He was suspended for the first game for an elbow on Irishman Dara O’Shea but Trump made another untimely intervention for his friend.

The point is that both decisions seemed unconstitutional but FIFA allowed both and the credibility of the organisation suffered as a result. The question to be asked where football’s biggest body is going after these two blunders? Can it live with the shame it has committed and will FIFA ever be free of these decisions made in the name of international football?

Protest

Jack Warner has said that he will be launching a protest.

The first vote will be mine – notwithstanding Infantino was high on the list of those who wanted Warner out. If you are comfortable with what Trump has done, you can’t be sitting without any pressure because you have the numbers.

Infantino, under normal circumstances, should be swept aside next year when he seeks another mandate but I think he will prevail again. UEFA is only one body that is likely to resist the missteps of Infantino and the Trump agenda which is clear to see, back me and you’ll succeed.

Iran felt all the pressure of the geopolitics and nobody stood up for them.

Another thing is that Infantino wants to bring 64 countries for the next World Cup and he probably will succeed. What chance of Barbados coming good and at what cost?

By the time the next edition is printed, it will all be done. One thing I have seen clearly is that the World Cup is for the big countries. Were it not so, I can see that a couple of the smaller countries would have been in the quarterfinals.

As it stands, they were seemingly deprived by the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system and a few indecisive referees. That’s how poor the systems are. Did Norway deserve to lose to England? They played better than England and were denied when the ball struck the fire alarm on its way to Jude Bellingham and he scored their first goal.

That’s the break some of the powerhouses are able to get without scrutiny. Was Mo Salah pushed aside when Argentina pressed for the third goal?

These are just two of the misdemeanours that occurred and changed the games. Better must come when there is so much at stake.

Geopolitics is at play and I guess it will loom large for Argentina and France.

Andi Thornhill is an award-winning, experienced freelance sports journalist and broadcaster. Email: andithornhill@live.com

Nation Newspaper, Barbados Wednesday July 15th. 2026


Mahogany Coconut Note :

Jack Warner who says  he will be launching a protest , is a former FIFA Vice President.

Mr. Warner is a Trinidadian.



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