Trump Gives World The Impression That U.S. Soccer Doesn't Have To Follow The Rules

 Donald Trump has blundered again, and the people who must pay the price for this one are the players on the United States soccer team.

In the last game, The leading scorer for the United States committed a foul. He was given a red card by the referee, which meant he had to leave the game (leaving the U.S. to finish the game a man short) and could not play in the next game according to FIFA rules.

It can be debated whether the foul deserved a red card. Personally, I thought a yellow card would have been more appropriate. But a red card was given.

U.S. soccer could have petitioned for a review. But that's not what happened. Donald Trump intervened by calling the head of FIFA. Then FIFA changed its rule for this player and said he could play in the next game against Belgium.

FIFA did not give a reason for changing the ban on playing for the U.S. player, and without a valid reason, it is looking like Trump pressured his buddy (the same head of FIFA that gave him a "peace prize" and is know for trying to appease Trump) to change the rules for the U.S. team.

Belgium immediately became upset at the change, and many other countries joined in against the decision. They think the U.S. is being given special treatment.

As I write this, the game against Belgium has not yet been played. But the U.S. team has been put in a no win situation. If the player (Folarin Balogun) plays and the U.S. wins, most other countries will believe it was unfair cheating. And if they lose, the world will still think the U.S. tried to cheat. Either way, it's a black mark against U.S. soccer.

This was a colossal blunder by Donald Trump - but then blundering is what he does best.

NOTE - Belgium appealed the overturning of the ban, but their appeal was denied.

UPDATE - Balogun played in the game, but it didn't make much difference. Belgium easily won the game by a score of 4 to 1. I doubt that will mitigate the way most of the world sees the unethical behavior of Donald Trump and FIFA.