Thank you very much for this award @SportSJA - sadly unable to travel so thank you even more for allowing my mum and dad to have a special moment (with the awesome @lmwilliamson7) to go up and receive it ❤️❤️❤️

BREAKING Belgian football federation confirm @TheAthleticFC story that it submitted formal appeal… saying “not received any explanation from FIFA” on Balogun ban suspension & “therefore no alternative but to challenge eligibility” for today’s game nytimes.com/athletic/7424790…

BREAKING: Belgium has reportedly been granted the right to appeal FIFA's decision allowing Folarin Balogun to play in tonight's match.

UEFA statement on the Balogun case: ⬇️ uefa.com/news-media/news/02a…

Like, it’s arguably the entire philosophy of the administration: the advancement of American interests even if it contravenes all rules-based norms across global institutions. How bad can FIFA’s political antennae be to not see that coming?

Something FIFA appear to have completely underestimated when signing off Balogun decision is the current U.S. administration will always prioritize claiming credit over how something is seen optically, and if (in their eyes) it winds up buttoned-up Europeans, then even better.

Inside read @TheAthleticFC on stunning FIFA decision to “free” Balogun: Trump’s phone call, the White House crack team who worked on it, and US Soccer’s representations to FIFA. The big question: why did FIFA make the decision? They haven’t explained. nytimes.com/athletic/7424432…

Abucheos a Infantino en el Estadio Azteca. Honor.

What a night at the Azteca. Could barely keep track of the drama. It was also valedictory. The World Cup now loses its dislocated heart. This occasion was one final explosion, a proper game in a proper stadium. It showed us what we could have had nytimes.com/athletic/7424898…

So: is this merely procedural and fifa going through the motions (possibly with a view to this ending up in CAS one day)… orrrr is the maddest story of the World Cup about to get even madder …

Belgium has been granted the right to appeal against FIFA’s decision to suspend the one-game ban handed to Folarin Balogun, less than 24 hours out from the team’s round of 16 game against the United States. Sources have now told The Athletic the Belgian federation has formally written to FIFA to appeal the matter, and the right to appeal has been granted. Both U.S. Soccer and the Belgian federation were asked to make submissions by 5am PST on Monday morning, which has exasperated the Belgians who have not received the decision by FIFA to review, as it is not made public. A member of the FIFA appeals committee – who does not represent a federation in either UEFA or CONCACAF, so as to avoid any potential conflict of interest – has been selected to hear the case. ✍️ @AdamCrafton_ 🔗 nyti.ms/4f1ZJYQ

NEW💥@TheAthleticFC FIFA grant Belgium right to appeal against suspension of Balogun’s one-game ban Belgium & U.S. have till 5am Monday PST to make any submissions - to be heard by rep from FIFA appeals committee - as Belgium continue to fight ruling nytimes.com/athletic/7424790…

NEW @TheAthleticFC Belgium write to FIFA requesting full rationale behind the decision to lift Balogun’s suspension, as well as the full report from FIFA’s refereeing body. This could run and run - imagine if Balogun scores & US win tomorrow… nytimes.com/athletic/7424790…

MBE’s all round for the England boys. On we goooo

And again with the penalty against England.

Quansah red card (for sure right decision) makes US red card ban suspension even more confusing. If that was about misapplied VAR protocol (use of still images), did we not just see the same again?

Menos bien

Muy bien

Starmer on the phone for that rice booking I hope

*Maybe* the Trump call had no sway, but after Infantino invented a peace prize, changed World Cup draw to Trump’s Kennedy Center, told people they should support Trump in Miami speech, played the YMCA (!!) for Trump at the draw… it’s hardly surprising people have questions