Jul 21, 2026 · 30 min · 10 segments
Send us Fan Mail What happens when the most powerful politician on earth picks up the phone to dispute a referee's call? Gavin Tighe and Stephen…
Stephen ThieleHostAnd of course, a great controversy that occurred when a American player, Jerry Balogun, who was their best player, or at least their highest scorer, was booted, I'll keep those football analogies going, by the referee with a red card for stepping on the ankle of an opposing player.
Certainly the red card became a bit of a red rag and drew a lot of attention, including I decided to wear my red jacket today just in commemoration.
So 100 percent, like the only time that you seen that or you worry about that is, you know, dictators hosting, you know, things like the Olympic Games.
And, you know, it's like figure skating, right? It's like figure skating and all the controversies there and judging and, you know, who's paying off somebody.
Well, yeah, there was a remarkable quote from the, uh, who, uh, um, what's his name again? The, um, infantino.
And with respect to the red card, he said, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders.
From around the world on many different issues, Infantino said, I bet you do, Sterian Fantino.
I mean, and look, there's so many ways to read into this, but FIFA has had a bit of an image problem.
in terms of being perceived by many as being less than honorable and above board organization.
So this whole controversy, I think they've worked pretty hard to try to overcome that.
But I don't know if they've slid right down into the muck as far as what people think of FIFA after this whole fiasco.
And of course, a great controversy that occurred when a American player, Jerry Balogun, who was their best player, or at least their highest scorer, was booted, I'll keep those football analogies going, by the referee with a red card for stepping on the ankle of an opposing player.
Certainly the red card became a bit of a red rag and drew a lot of attention, including I decided to wear my red jacket today just in commemoration.
So 100 percent, like the only time that you seen that or you worry about that is, you know, dictators hosting, you know, things like the Olympic Games.
And, you know, it's like figure skating, right? It's like figure skating and all the controversies there and judging and, you know, who's paying off somebody.
Well, yeah, there was a remarkable quote from the, uh, who, uh, um, what's his name again? The, um, infantino.
And with respect to the red card, he said, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders.
From around the world on many different issues, Infantino said, I bet you do, Sterian Fantino.
I mean, and look, there's so many ways to read into this, but FIFA has had a bit of an image problem.
in terms of being perceived by many as being less than honorable and above board organization.
So this whole controversy, I think they've worked pretty hard to try to overcome that.
But I don't know if they've slid right down into the muck as far as what people think of FIFA after this whole fiasco.
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