I always had the USA as a last 16 team. Nothing more, nothing less. Being host does not give you an automatic pass to glory or even a quarter final.
They hype behind the USA team was beginning to snowball long before Balogun received red. Every passing game it stepped up a gear. The disrespect towards Bosnia -Herzegovina was quite something from some wings of media and (as always) the online contingents.
They weren’t a bad side by any stretch. However, could you genuinely identify a truly terrible team from the tournament began?
The red card should never have happened. The coming together and the bad tackle was the consequence of accidental contact and not intent. As a complete bystander and armchair viewer I’m saying it’s a yellow.
In a Premier League game it might have been a red but an appeal would have probably seen the card rescinded.
The issue isn’t the tackle, the card, the VAR. The issue is what happened next. Outside interference.
Trump got involved. Asked his mate if it could be dealt with. His mate whose offices reside in Trump Tower. His mate who gave him a peace prize for well……nothing.
That’s the issue.
The guy with the final say.
Despite what the current White House incumbent thinks…it’s not him.
At the end of the day the overturning or suspension of that red card proved fruitless anyway. The USA will go no further, the last 16 is where the journey ends.
The conversation though will continue as this is not the first time something like this has happened.
The precedence sadly, already exists.
Ronaldo got sent off against Ireland and saw his card suspended.
A tournament without Ronaldo from the start? Unthinkable apparently.
So outside forces have been at play before a World Cup ball was kicked.
The case for allowing the suspension of the decisions made by officials is already here.
Big Brother is already watching. From high up like an emperor of old ready to deliver thumbs up or thumbs down.
The call was coming from inside the house.
The red card needs to be brandished elsewhere!
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