Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Sunday, July 05, 2026

President Donald Trump's role in FIFA's stunning decision to allow striker Folarin Balogun to be eligible to play against Belgium on Monday in Seattle is under the microscope. A source familiar with the matter told CNN on Sunday that Trump spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino this week after Balogun's red card and asked the FIFA leader to review the call. On Sunday afternoon, soccer's governing body announced it was using an obscure rule to suspend Balogun's automatic one-match ban for one year, allowing the striker to play against Belgium in the Round of 16.

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Congrats to the USA... designated winners of the 2026 World Cup!

#1 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-07-05 10:49 PM | Reply

Another view ...

Can Gianni Infantino keep winning over Trump without losing the world?
www.politico.com

... That success is beginning to weaken Infantino, as the third-term FIFA president faces newfound internal opposition for his over-the-top courtship of Trump. Our interviews with six international soccer officials across three continents reveal widespread frustration with Infantino's decision to side with Trump...

"The extent of this cozy relationship that we've seen and and the public character that has been assumed between Mr. Infantino and Mr. Trump is different even from what we saw in the past," said Miguel Maduro, former chairman of FIFA's governance and review committee. "It's not that things like that didn't happen in the past, but it didn't happen so obviously and so emphatically as they do now."

Our reporting found that Infantino did not inform his 37-member FIFA Council before creating the FIFA Peace Prize this year, three people familiar with the matter told POLITICO. Over the past year, at least three of FIFA's eight vice presidents have publicly or privately expressed their concerns about the lengths Infantino is willing to go to please Trump. ...


#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-05 11:00 PM | Reply

FIFA stunned the world by giving a bogus peace prize to a serial child rapist.

#3 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-07-05 11:21 PM | Reply

Wonderful England vs Mexico match.

Surprised this site only has political threads about the WC, and very little, to nothing about the best world cup matches I have ever seen.

#4 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-05 11:44 PM | Reply

Pedo 47's buddy from Epstein Island Howie Nutlick was also involved.

www.politico.com

#5 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-07-05 11:44 PM | Reply

LAPD issues citywide tactical alert before end of Mexico-England World Cup match
www.nbclosangeles.com

#6 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-07-05 11:47 PM | Reply

"Deflector shields to max!!!"

#7 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-07-05 11:49 PM | Reply

Who gives a s*^%? It doesn't affect any of our lives in a meaningful way and FIFA is corrupt as hell anyway.

Anyone surprised at this is obtuse or ignorant.

#8 | Posted by jpw at 2026-07-06 12:55 AM | Reply

FIFA is corrupt as hell anyway

That is certainly a well known point.

#9 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-07-06 01:11 AM | Reply

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