Interference by Trump in the World Cup.

Think Infantino should start looking for another job!
No sport should be subject to this type of interference .
Trump gets worse by the day!

I agree.
What a farce!

Trump and Infantino are a disgrace !

Apparently there is no mechanism for appealing World Cup red cards and a one match ban is mandatory according to FIFA's rules. But Article 27 of their disciplinary code allows FIFA to suspend the match ban for 12 months.

The thing is, they didn't suspend the three red card match bans from the opening game, so why the American one? Especially as there's no way to appeal it.

I guess a President complaining isn't classed as an appeal.

NotSpaghetti Apologies for repeating what you already stated...I misread your OP.

Why does this not surprise me?
Maybe Mr Infantino could just cut out the middle bit where people play football, and just give the shiny trophy to his friend Mr Trump, sorry, the USA team.

That’s not right!

Chocolatelovinggran

Why does this not surprise me?
Maybe Mr Infantino could just cut out the middle bit where people play football, and just give the shiny trophy to his friend Mr Trump, sorry, the USA team.

I’m sure FIFA will conjure up a special award for the host team. To think there was such an outcry about Quatar being given the World Cup. Who’d’ve thought the America that was awarded it would become the America it is now.

The Royal Belgian Football Association stressed that this type of automatic suspension was outlined explicitly (in the form of a reminder) to all teams via Circular No. 16 on May 12, 2026. It was apparently reiterated at every single pre-match coordination meeting.
The federation has released a statement saying that it is "investigating all potential options" to protect the integrity and fair play of the games.

I have tried to understand what they can do and why this suspended red card can even exist.
What I've discovered is nothing new of course.. FIFA hold the cards.

This is what I've discovered -

The World Cup Rulebook says: "If a player gets a red card, they are automatically banned from the next game." (This is what Belgium is relying on).
​HOWEVER, the fine print (Article 7.1) says: "The World Cup has to follow FIFA’s Master Rulebook (The Disciplinary Code) for punishments."
​The Loophole (Article 27) inside that Master Rulebook says: "FIFA’s independent judges have the absolute power to pause or delay any punishment they want."

So basically they can do as they wish.
Article 27 was apparently devised for complex, long-term legal discipline issues. It was never intended to act as a sudden, overnight appeal process for a standard, single-match red card.
It was written to handle multi-game punishments or (more often) off-field bad behavior, giving FIFA a way to say, "We are giving you a massive penalty, but if you behave yourself, we will let you keep working."

I am not a football fan but I do hate injustice!

If the manager has any integrity, he wont include him in the next game .

It's extremely rare for FIFA to suspend a red card match ban. It happened in the 1962 World Cup and again in this year's - Christian Ronaldo should have been unavailable due to a three match ban after receiving a red card in a qualifier. FIFA allowed him to serve the first one in a pre - World Cup friendly, and suspended the other two, allowing him to play from the start of the tournament.

I'd like to think Jarell Quansah's one match ban will be suspended too, but I'm not holding my breath.

Suspend one red card; suspend them all.

Seems to be a mix and match approach, forgive the pun.

I looked that up Boggledmind
Ronaldo's was a violent offence si has slightly different regs. You could argue (and they probably did) that because he has a history of flying off the handle this is exactly the area this "suspended punishment" was devised for - behaviour management.

Whatever FIFA thought - it wasn't to do with political interference.

Is this Trump trying to ensure the USA win the World Cup?
Wonder what he’ll do/how he’ll behave if they look like losing?

If the USA wins the World Cup you can bet Trump will take credit for the win.

It would create even more bad blood.

Just when I'm sure he can't do anything worse ---

It’s come to something when Sepp Blatter condemns the decision. 😂

Is anyone honestly surprised at any dodgy Trump behaviour?

Hopefully our PM has fired off an email to M Infantino regarding the red card our boy picked up 💁‍♀️