President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the red card given to Team USA’s Folarin Balogun during Wednesday night’s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, an person familiar with the conversation told The Hill. Trump later cheered the reversal, calling it an “injustice.”
FIFA said its independent panel overturned the red card suspension for Monday’s game.
Politics and sports shouldn’t be mixed
Sports have always been political. Look back at history to see states banning everything besides horse riding and archery for military reasons. Look at the Nika riots burning half of Constantinople. Look at the class politics of early professional teams.
“Sports shouldn’t be political” is a modern political invention to insulate leisure-as-distraction from the burning and looting going on all around us.
Politicians all show up to these events.
On one hand… I get it. On the other hand, massive protests against touring South African sides during apartheid helped bolster public understanding and support for bringing it down.
Like, should Russia and Israel be allowed to play?