One call. One Favor. One tainted tournament.
“When power “asks,” it’s not a request. It’s a demand with an unspoken threat.“ – Lisa Merlo-Booth
Can the Powers That Be Get the Hell Out of the Way
When the head of one nation steps into the middle of the World Cup and “asks” for a call made in a game to be reviewed, that’s not a request. That’s a power play. And when the man called is the President of FIFA, the organization running the entire World Cup, the overturned call is not a “fair decision,” it’s a favor. It’s also another egregious example of the disturbing underbelly of uncontrolled power.
In case you haven’t been watching The World Cup let me catch you up on this particular “red card drama”:
- The US player Folarin Balogun received a red card in the US’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina
- When you receive a red card in any match you must immediately leave the game and your team must play the remainder of the game a man down. You also are not eligible to play in the next game your team plays.
- Although many people felt the incident did not deserve a red card (and they are correct-in my humble opinion lol), FIFA does not permit appeals against red cards.
- The US and Balogun accepted their fate—with disappointment, sadness, anger, and many other emotions I’m sure. And yet, they’re professionals who know the game and moved on from the red card to prepare for their next match with Belgium. Belgium also prepared to play against the US without one of their best players Balogun.
- Until…grotesque power stepped in and said rules be damned, traditions be damned, fair play be damned. And the red card suspension suddenly was “suspended” for a year lol. In other words, one man flexed his power to another man who flexed his power and two toddlers changed the entire mood, legitimacy, good will, and charm of the World Cup.
They couldn’t kill the fun, the excitement, the human connection of the World Cup outright. But they certainly took the air out of it. Small mercies that there are some things those in power can’t take.
In the end, the US played Belgium, Balogun played, the US team got trampled on and are out of the World Cup. Would they had lost if the two men at the top kept their egos out of the equation? Maybe, maybe not. I have no doubt though that both teams would have been able to play a much cleaner game without the stink in the air all around them. They would’ve been able to focus on their craft only and do what they came here to do—play the best game they’re capable of playing.
Inherent in any sport are bad calls, unfair goals, heart-breaking decisions. All of these are part of the game. These two men in power tried to play God because one man was upset with a call and wanted his country to win—by any means possible. That level of unchecked power ruined what was otherwise an amazing experience for this team. This unchecked power put the US coach, Balogun, the entire US team, and Belgium in an incredibly difficult position. It also tainted the entire World Cup. Shame on them. Shame on a world and nation that accepts that level of power and bows down to it. It’s tragic on every level. It’s out of hand. It’s toxic. And sadly, it will likely continue for as long as humanity is in existence.
I look forward to a time when all of humanity surrounding these men and those like them learns how to not bow to them, placate them, or accommodate their bullying, intimidation, threats, direct harm, and ultimately their lack of mental and characterological health.
Not bowing down to these men could look like any number of things. Here are a few:
- The President of FIFA could’ve said to the US President that although he understands his upset about the call, that is part of the game and FIFA’s rule that there are no appeals for red cards stands.
- Countless members of the FIFA organization would have called out the FIFA president’s actions and refused to support him. They could’ve come out to the press, been clear that this decision was solely his goes against the entire FIFA staff.
- Mauricio Pochettino, the US men’s coach turning down FIFA’s red card suspension and compassionately letting Balogun know that although he would love to have him play, he does not want to put him or the team in that position. He could explain that once he puts Balogun on the field, no matter how well the team plays, any win would be forever tainted. And, bad calls are a part of the game.
- Folarin Balogun could have said to his coach and teammates that although there is nothing that he would like to do more than to play this game in the World Cup, he does not want to play under these circumstances and he trusts his teammates to do well without him while he cheers on the sidelines and joins them in the next match.
- The US team as a whole could’ve decided to not go along with FIFA’s decision and continue with the game plan they had been working on all week. They could’ve supported Balogun’s upset and committed to doing their best to beat Belgium and making sure Balogun plays another match in the World Cup—just not this match.
All and any of the above moves would be difficult moves. Each one puts someone in a position of vulnerability—to the powers that be, to their colleagues, their players, their team, and to the world. And, hard things are often necessary for true change to happen. Strong character can’t happen without doing hard things, making difficult decisions, and taking big risks by standing up. Not making these hard moves though opens the door for more and more power grabs, intimidation, back-room deals and ultimately tainted World Cups, toxic cultures, and an unsafe world.
What happened in the World Cup reminds me of what happens in countless homes throughout the world: The unhealthiest person in the home runs the home. Only this time it went far beyond the home.
This is just one person’s opinion on an event that is happening in our world. When we let the unhealthiest person in the room run it, everyone loses the game they came to play. What are your thoughts?
