By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Controversy in sport will never stop! Whether it is cricket, basketball, even horse racing. Well, football reared its ugly head when after a player from the United States was banned for one match after getting a red card, FIFA reversed that decision based on the intervention of that country’s President.
This was not social media bacchanal. It was confirmed by President Donald Trump that he made a call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to “review” that red card decision. But FIFA did not only “review”, it “reversed” the red card and that banned US player, Folarin Balogun, was allowed to play in the round of 16 on Monday night against Belgium.
But as they say in Trinidad and Tobago, “God doh Sleep”. On Monday night, the US got a sound beating from Belgium 4-1 to bow out of the World Cup. The US became the third and final co-host to depart the final stages of the World Cup, the other two being Canada and Mexico.
On the field, however, Belgium proved too strong. Belgium opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Charles De Ketelaere. The Americans briefly levelled through Malik Tillman in the 31st minute. But defensive lapses allowed Belgium to pull away before sealing an emphatic 4-1 victory. De Ketelaere scored his second in the 33rd minute. Hans Vanaken made it 3-1 in the 57th minute and Romelu Lakaku sealed the victory in the extra time.
Balogun, who entered the match with three tournament goals, was unable to make the decisive impact many had hoped for.
Belgium will now face Spain in the quarter finals on July 10 in Los Angeles.
On Monday afternoon, Spain sent Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo packing from the World Cup with a 1-0 victory in Texas. At 41, this may be Ronaldo’s last World Cup, he having played in five such tournaments before.
Spain edged Portugal 1-0 thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Mikel Merino.
Ronaldo leaves the World Cup stage as one of football’s greatest icon. Prior to the match, he confirmed that this year’s FIFA World Cup would be his final World Cup of his career.
The tournament marked his sixth FIFA World Cup, a journey that began in 2006 and saw him become the first player in history to score in six different World Cup editions.
Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 146 international goals, Ronaldo also captained his nation to its first major trophy at UEFA Euro 2016.
Although Ronaldo’s World Cup dream remained unfulfilled, his extraordinary career and remarkable achievements secured his place among the legends of the game.
So how many big names remain in the tournament? Of course, they are Lionel Messi, of Argentina, Kylian Mbappe, of France, Erling Haaland, of Norway, Harry Kane, of England, just to name a few.
