The Fifa president has further diminished the reputation of an organisation that had already become a byword for sleaze
Millions of England football fans will have woken bleary-eyed today after spending the small hours watching the national team defeat Mexico in the cauldron of their legendary stadium, the Azteca. Now, Norway awaits in the quarter finals as the country begins once again to tempt fate by believing the first World Cup triumph in 60 years is on the cards.
The win this morning was all the more remarkable given that England were reduced to 10 men for a quarter of the game after their defender Jarell Quansah was sent off. The rules dictate that he will miss at least the next game and maybe more for a reckless challenge.
But it would appear these rules are not hard and fast. Folarin Balogun, a US striker rated among the team’s best players, was shown a red card in the host’s last match, yet he will be available to play in the quarter finals against Belgium. Why? Because President Trump contacted Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, and secured his agreement to lift what should be an automatic one-match ban. No reasonable explanation for the move was provided. Mr Trump boasted openly about his influence and thanked Fifa for “reversing a great injustice”.
But if the ban can be lifted for Balogun why not for Quansah? This show of apparent favouritism to the host country is astonishing; others are entitled to demand similar treatment. Moreover, what if Balogun now scores the winner against Belgium?
So far it has been a great tournament with packed stadiums, excellent football and several upsets, not least Brazil’s elimination at the hands of the Norwegians. But this scandal threatens to tarnish what might otherwise have been a signal success for America. Mr Infantino has further diminished the reputation of an organisation that had already become a byword for sleaze under his predecessor Sepp Blatter. He should resign.
- Telegraph View
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