FIFA World Cup 2026
Poll
 | 2 votes (50%) | ||
| | 2 votes (50%) | ||
| | 3 votes (75%) | ||
| | 1 vote (25%) | ||
| | 1 vote (25%) | ||
| | 1 vote (25%) | ||
| | 1 vote (25%) | ||
| | 1 vote (25%) | ||
| | 1 vote (25%) | ||
| | 1 vote (25%) |
4 members have voted
Quote: DRichQuote: SOOPOOQuote: toolypShame! Matches in gameday #3 are fake. Both teams play for a tie to advance. Mockery of a competition. FIFA should find a way to avoid such situations. hit the cheaters with big fines.
link to original post
Cha Ching for those that took advantage of that knowledge.
Also, the teams not playing their best players! France did and Norway didn’t. The USA put in their scrubs against Turkey.
Expanding to 48 teams was only about $$$. 72 games to eliminate 16 bottom feeders. A zero-zero tie is considered a great result for many teams. Anyone taking Cape Verde over Argentina?
Fun fact. Praia is the capital of the small island nation. Only real ‘city’ (over 100k people) in Cape Verde. So you would expect it to have more players on the national team from there than any other city. You’d be wrong. There are six ROTTERDAM born players…. Only 4 from Praia….
link to original post
I bet someone $10 I could point out Cape Verde on a map, within 1000 miles, and lost. I thought it was off the coast of Africa, in the southern Indian Ocean.
Interesting fact: There are weekly direct flights between Providence Rhode Island and Praia Cape Verde.
link to original post
Quote: billryan[
I bet someone $10 I could point out Cape Verde on a map, within 1000 miles, and lost. I thought it was off the coast of Africa, in the southern Indian Ocean.
I only knew it was further north than that because it is only about a 6.5 hour flight from Providence.
Quote: DRichQuote: billryan[
I bet someone $10 I could point out Cape Verde on a map, within 1000 miles, and lost. I thought it was off the coast of Africa, in the southern Indian Ocean.
I only knew it was further north than that because it is only about a 6.5 hour flight from Providence.
link to original post
I didn't even get the ocean right.
Quote: billryanQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: SOOPOOQuote: toolypShame! Matches in gameday #3 are fake. Both teams play for a tie to advance. Mockery of a competition. FIFA should find a way to avoid such situations. hit the cheaters with big fines.
link to original post
Cha Ching for those that took advantage of that knowledge.
Also, the teams not playing their best players! France did and Norway didn’t. The USA put in their scrubs against Turkey.
Expanding to 48 teams was only about $$$. 72 games to eliminate 16 bottom feeders. A zero-zero tie is considered a great result for many teams. Anyone taking Cape Verde over Argentina?
Fun fact. Praia is the capital of the small island nation. Only real ‘city’ (over 100k people) in Cape Verde. So you would expect it to have more players on the national team from there than any other city. You’d be wrong. There are six ROTTERDAM born players…. Only 4 from Praia….
link to original post
No different than when a MLB teams sets their rotation after making the playoffs and rosters expand to 40 players. No different than when a NFL coach pulls his starters after making the playoffs. WC teams played their best players in the early games, which is why they won and qualified for the knock-out rounds with 1 or 2 games left to play. Win early, make the knock out rounds, rest the key players for health and/or yellow card reasons and go in to the next round fully loaded and ready to go. As a fan, I'd rather see my team win early and make the playoffs than have them struggle and press to have to win game 4 to earn the last seed. The teams earned the right to rest their starters. As for the ticket buying fan, they bought tickets to see their team compete, not to see any one player or players.
I assume your expanded pool objections also apply to NCAA D1 basketball, wild card MLB teams, the possible expansion of NCAA D1 football playoffs.
link to original post
One big difference is that people are paying playoff prices for the tickets, and a non-base television audience is watching what is advertised as the world's best.
I'd argue the fans bought tickets to see the team that won its way into the tournament, not their understudies.
In any event, we are now in the knockout stage so its pedal to the medal from here on out.
link to original post
People pay full price for MLB games in Sept and Oct when the rosters expand to 40 and the other teams are eliminated. And the ballpark is sold out anyway. People pay full price when the NFL team locks up the number 3 seed and rests their starters. And the stadium is sold out regardless. Let my team win big, early and often and coast in to the next round.
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: billryanQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: SOOPOOQuote: toolypShame! Matches in gameday #3 are fake. Both teams play for a tie to advance. Mockery of a competition. FIFA should find a way to avoid such situations. hit the cheaters with big fines.
link to original post
Cha Ching for those that took advantage of that knowledge.
Also, the teams not playing their best players! France did and Norway didn’t. The USA put in their scrubs against Turkey.
Expanding to 48 teams was only about $$$. 72 games to eliminate 16 bottom feeders. A zero-zero tie is considered a great result for many teams. Anyone taking Cape Verde over Argentina?
Fun fact. Praia is the capital of the small island nation. Only real ‘city’ (over 100k people) in Cape Verde. So you would expect it to have more players on the national team from there than any other city. You’d be wrong. There are six ROTTERDAM born players…. Only 4 from Praia….
link to original post
No different than when a MLB teams sets their rotation after making the playoffs and rosters expand to 40 players. No different than when a NFL coach pulls his starters after making the playoffs. WC teams played their best players in the early games, which is why they won and qualified for the knock-out rounds with 1 or 2 games left to play. Win early, make the knock out rounds, rest the key players for health and/or yellow card reasons and go in to the next round fully loaded and ready to go. As a fan, I'd rather see my team win early and make the playoffs than have them struggle and press to have to win game 4 to earn the last seed. The teams earned the right to rest their starters. As for the ticket buying fan, they bought tickets to see their team compete, not to see any one player or players.
I assume your expanded pool objections also apply to NCAA D1 basketball, wild card MLB teams, the possible expansion of NCAA D1 football playoffs.
link to original post
One big difference is that people are paying playoff prices for the tickets, and a non-base television audience is watching what is advertised as the world's best.
I'd argue the fans bought tickets to see the team that won its way into the tournament, not their understudies.
In any event, we are now in the knockout stage so its pedal to the medal from here on out.
link to original post
People pay full price for MLB games in Sept and Oct when the rosters expand to 40 and the other teams are eliminated. And the ballpark is sold out anyway. People pay full price when the NFL team locks up the number 3 seed and rests their starters. And the stadium is sold out regardless. Let my team win big, early and often and coast in to the next round.
link to original post
“when the NFL team locks up the number 3 seed and rests their starters”
Legit. It’s good coaching. Rest the best players and even prevent costly injuries. The opponents target the value players in that sort of games.
But in tournament soccer they do somethin illegal sometimes. The dreadful tie that qualifies both teams. there were a few matches in gameday #3. It is fixing. Illegal. FBI cases if the matches are played in USA. Euro 2024 had an even more defiant case. Portugal intentionally lost their match against Georgia to avoid Holland in playoffs (round of 16).
It is blatant but hard to prove legally. Impossible.
Quote: toolyp“when the NFL team locks up the number 3 seed and rests their starters”
Legit. It’s good coaching. Rest the best players and even prevent costly injuries. The opponents target the value players in that sort of games.
But in tournament soccer they do somethin illegal sometimes. The dreadful tie that qualifies both teams. there were a few matches in gameday #3. It is fixing. Illegal. FBI cases if the matches are played in USA. Euro 2024 had an even more defiant case. Portugal intentionally lost their match against Georgia to avoid Holland in playoffs (round of 16).
It is blatant but hard to prove legally. Impossible.
link to original post
It's not necessarily "fixing." Do you want to be the coach that has to explain to their country's fans, "Yes, it was a mistake to press for a meaningless goal that ended up resulting in our opponents catching us out of position and scoring the goal that knocked us out, when we could have just played for the draw to advance"?
The problem is, the way the competition is organized. If you want to prevent that sort of thing, pretty much the only way to do it is, only one team per round-robin group advances. Good luck getting anybody to agree to doing that. I remember when what is now the European Champions League was a single-elimination tournament.
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: SOOPOOQuote: toolypShame! Matches in gameday #3 are fake. Both teams play for a tie to advance. Mockery of a competition. FIFA should find a way to avoid such situations. hit the cheaters with big fines.
link to original post
Cha Ching for those that took advantage of that knowledge.
Also, the teams not playing their best players! France did and Norway didn’t. The USA put in their scrubs against Turkey.
Expanding to 48 teams was only about $$$. 72 games to eliminate 16 bottom feeders. A zero-zero tie is considered a great result for many teams. Anyone taking Cape Verde over Argentina?
Fun fact. Praia is the capital of the small island nation. Only real ‘city’ (over 100k people) in Cape Verde. So you would expect it to have more players on the national team from there than any other city. You’d be wrong. There are six ROTTERDAM born players…. Only 4 from Praia….
link to original post
I assume your expanded pool objections also apply to NCAA D1 basketball, wild card MLB teams, the possible expansion of NCAA D1 football playoffs.
link to original post
Absolutely! The ‘devaluing’ of regular season play in most sports is the direction we have gone in.
You want to see an 83-79 Reds team in the playoffs?
We needed a 19-14 Vanderbilt team in the NCAA tourney?
The LA Kings went 35-47 this year. I need them to be in the playoffs?
Who was stoked to see the 37-45 Warriors after the regular season ended?
And the Panthers 8-9 mediocrity was a fine addition to the NFL playoffs.
SOOPOO solution.
NCAA tourney. 48 teams. Top 16 get byes
NHL. 8 teams
NBA. 8 teams
NFL. 8 teams
MLB. 8 teams
NCAAF 8 teams
For interest, the EPL has no playoff. You win the most games during the season, you are the champion. (.Ties count as 1/3 of a win)
I’d have EPL have a 1 game playoff at the home field of the team with more points.
It’s not ‘the people’s game’. It’s the uber-wealthy’s game.
Edit. Face value was just $105. So lots of ‘regular’ fans could get tickets. If you want a ticket now it’s ’rich Only’
Quote: ThatDonGuyQuote: toolyp“when the NFL team locks up the number 3 seed and rests their starters”
Legit. It’s good coaching. Rest the best players and even prevent costly injuries. The opponents target the value players in that sort of games.
But in tournament soccer they do somethin illegal sometimes. The dreadful tie that qualifies both teams. there were a few matches in gameday #3. It is fixing. Illegal. FBI cases if the matches are played in USA. Euro 2024 had an even more defiant case. Portugal intentionally lost their match against Georgia to avoid Holland in playoffs (round of 16).
It is blatant but hard to prove legally. Impossible.
link to original post
It's not necessarily "fixing." Do you want to be the coach that has to explain to their country's fans, "Yes, it was a mistake to press for a meaningless goal that ended up resulting in our opponents catching us out of position and scoring the goal that knocked us out, when we could have just played for the draw to advance"?
The problem is, the way the competition is organized. If you want to prevent that sort of thing, pretty much the only way to do it is, only one team per round-robin group advances. Good luck getting anybody to agree to doing that. I remember when what is now the European Champions League was a single-elimination tournament.
link to original post
I agree, and there's nothing dishonorable about playing for a tie in events where ties count and are common. Soccer fans don't feel cheated when they see a tie. I'd worry a little more about it in gridiron football where OT is an oddity and a tie outcome is a rarity, rare enough that it could have the look of being an outcome that was planned from the beginning of the game.
Quote: DRichIn 2010 Spain won the World Cup. They played a total of seven games and scored a total of eight goals in those seven games. What an exciting sport.
link to original post
Defense wins championships.
I have never liked the fact that 64 or more college teams wildly celebrate making the NCAA basketball tournament and then 32+ of those teams are eliminated from the tournament in the first 2 days. Its just so . . . dismissive.
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: GenoDRPhQuote: SOOPOOQuote: toolypShame! Matches in gameday #3 are fake. Both teams play for a tie to advance. Mockery of a competition. FIFA should find a way to avoid such situations. hit the cheaters with big fines.
link to original post
Cha Ching for those that took advantage of that knowledge.
Also, the teams not playing their best players! France did and Norway didn’t. The USA put in their scrubs against Turkey.
Expanding to 48 teams was only about $$$. 72 games to eliminate 16 bottom feeders. A zero-zero tie is considered a great result for many teams. Anyone taking Cape Verde over Argentina?
Fun fact. Praia is the capital of the small island nation. Only real ‘city’ (over 100k people) in Cape Verde. So you would expect it to have more players on the national team from there than any other city. You’d be wrong. There are six ROTTERDAM born players…. Only 4 from Praia….
link to original post
I assume your expanded pool objections also apply to NCAA D1 basketball, wild card MLB teams, the possible expansion of NCAA D1 football playoffs.
link to original post
Absolutely! The ‘devaluing’ of regular season play in most sports is the direction we have gone in.
You want to see an 83-79 Reds team in the playoffs?
We needed a 19-14 Vanderbilt team in the NCAA tourney?
The LA Kings went 35-47 this year. I need them to be in the playoffs?
Who was stoked to see the 37-45 Warriors after the regular season ended?
And the Panthers 8-9 mediocrity was a fine addition to the NFL playoffs.
SOOPOO solution.
NCAA tourney. 48 teams. Top 16 get byes
NHL. 8 teams
NBA. 8 teams
NFL. 8 teams
MLB. 8 teams
NCAAF 8 teams
For interest, the EPL has no playoff. You win the most games during the season, you are the champion. (.Ties count as 1/3 of a win)
I’d have EPL have a 1 game playoff at the home field of the team with more points.
link to original post
How would the sports make up for the lost revenue? The Mens NCAA hoops revenue pays for a lot of non-revenue sports.
Quote: AutomaticMonkeyQuote: ThatDonGuyQuote: toolyp“when the NFL team locks up the number 3 seed and rests their starters”
Legit. It’s good coaching. Rest the best players and even prevent costly injuries. The opponents target the value players in that sort of games.
But in tournament soccer they do somethin illegal sometimes. The dreadful tie that qualifies both teams. there were a few matches in gameday #3. It is fixing. Illegal. FBI cases if the matches are played in USA. Euro 2024 had an even more defiant case. Portugal intentionally lost their match against Georgia to avoid Holland in playoffs (round of 16).
It is blatant but hard to prove legally. Impossible.
link to original post
It's not necessarily "fixing." Do you want to be the coach that has to explain to their country's fans, "Yes, it was a mistake to press for a meaningless goal that ended up resulting in our opponents catching us out of position and scoring the goal that knocked us out, when we could have just played for the draw to advance"?
The problem is, the way the competition is organized. If you want to prevent that sort of thing, pretty much the only way to do it is, only one team per round-robin group advances. Good luck getting anybody to agree to doing that. I remember when what is now the European Champions League was a single-elimination tournament.
link to original post
I agree, and there's nothing dishonorable about playing for a tie in events where ties count and are common. Soccer fans don't feel cheated when they see a tie. I'd worry a little more about it in gridiron football where OT is an oddity and a tie outcome is a rarity, rare enough that it could have the look of being an outcome that was planned from the beginning of the game.
link to original post
FIFA World Cup 2026 – the knockout phase started. Easy to see the difference on the pitch. The competition was real. Both Canada and SouthAfrika played as if there was no tomoz. Luckily the game didnt end in a penalty kick shootout.
When I said “fixing” it didnt imply “money”. It’s kinduv “a gentlemen’s crooked agreement”. Both teams tacitly agree on a draw without secret communication before the match. Everyone watching the game has a strong feeling itll end up in a tie. and it does 99% of the time.
Tie game, both teams advance, Iran out.
Quote: odiousgambitAnybody check out how you would have done betting on draws on "both advance" games? This must be known to oddsmakers
link to original post
I got these payouts for drwas in gameday #3 –
Japan - Sweden +250 (result 1-1)
Paraguay - Australia +230 (0-0)
Egypt - IR Iran +210 (1-1)
Colombia - Portugal +240 (0-0)
Algeria - Austria +230 (3-3)
Only Iran failed to advance.
Profit 1,160 for 100 bet. Nice.
Cape Verde - Saudi Arabia +163 +250 +185
The tie was the most attractive bet but not big diff from either victory. Saudi needed victory in this match tho. Cape Verde advanced with 3 ties! The luckiest qualifier.
The latest Brazil vs. Japan odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list Brazil at -145 (risk $145 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Japan at +420 and a draw at +270.
Germany-Paraguay
Germany -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Paraguay +775 (bet $100 to win $775) | Draw +425 (bet $100 to win $425) BetMGM Sportsbook Betting on Germany is not attractive at all; better draw 90 minutes.
Netherlands-Morocco +125 +200 +250; very close, but Morocco win would have been more attractive at +500.
Betano in Europe has quite different odds for Germany-Paraguay
-142 +355 +925
more attractive to bet on Germany; very attractive a bet Paraguay.
Quote: billryanA 1-0 World Series game would be talked about forever, especially if it went to extra innings.
link to original post
Really?. I have not heard anyone talking about the 1991 World Series game between the Twins and Braves that ended 1-0 in 10 innings
Quote: DRichQuote: billryanA 1-0 World Series game would be talked about forever, especially if it went to extra innings.
link to original post
Really?. I have not heard anyone talking about the 1991 World Series game between the Twins and Braves that ended 1-0 in 10 innings
link to original post
It's ranked fourth on MLB's list of ten greatest WS games.
Quote: DRichI just made my first World Cup bet. Mexico vs Ecuador over 1.5 goals.
link to original post
That looks to be a very exciting match.
you averaged better than +1000 on odds you got I just realizedQuote: toolypQuote: odiousgambitAnybody check out how you would have done betting on draws on "both advance" games? This must be known to oddsmakers
link to original post
I got these payouts for drwas in gameday #3 –
Japan - Sweden +250 (result 1-1)
Paraguay - Australia +230 (0-0)
Egypt - IR Iran +210 (1-1)
Colombia - Portugal +240 (0-0)
Algeria - Austria +230 (3-3)
Only Iran failed to advance.
Profit 1,160 for 100 bet. Nice.
link to original post
Quote: odiousgambityou averaged better than +1000 on odds you got I just realizedQuote: toolypQuote: odiousgambitAnybody check out how you would have done betting on draws on "both advance" games? This must be known to oddsmakers
link to original post
I got these payouts for drwas in gameday #3 –
Japan - Sweden +250 (result 1-1)
Paraguay - Australia +230 (0-0)
Egypt - IR Iran +210 (1-1)
Colombia - Portugal +240 (0-0)
Algeria - Austria +230 (3-3)
Only Iran failed to advance.
Profit 1,160 for 100 bet. Nice.
link to original post
link to original post
It’s Mdawgs odds. And he bet 100k chips.
Quote: gordonm888I like the FIFA World Cup format. Given that you organize a national team and travel thousands of miles to the host countries, I think its nice that every team gets to play in three Round 1 games spaced roughly a week apart - so they and their fans can have the experience of being in the World Cup. Sure there are some clunker games but the participation trophy is actually a valuable goal. After Round 1 it becomes single game knockout.
48 qualfiied for the W
I have never liked the fact that 64 or more college teams wildly celebrate making the NCAA basketball tournament and then 32+ of those teams are eliminated from the tournament in the first 2 days. Its just so . . . dismissive.
link to original post
It's not like national federations put a team together and just show up. There are 211 national associations in FIFA, and 48 qualified for the WC this year. That's not even a quarter of the nations. Teams earn the participation trophy.
World Cup in America.
2 of the first 3 teams eliminated in the knockout round:
Japan and Germany.
These colors don’t run.
Quote: toolypGameday #2 round of 32
The latest Brazil vs. Japan odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list Brazil at -145 (risk $145 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Japan at +420 and a draw at +270.
Germany-Paraguay
Germany -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Paraguay +775 (bet $100 to win $775) | Draw +425 (bet $100 to win $425) BetMGM Sportsbook Betting on Germany is not attractive at all; better draw 90 minutes.
Netherlands-Morocco +125 +200 +250; very close, but Morocco win would have been more attractive at +500.
Betano in Europe has quite different odds for Germany-Paraguay
-142 +355 +925
more attractive to bet on Germany; very attractive a bet Paraguay.
link to original post
“Betting on Germany is not attractive at all; better draw 90 minutes.”
+425 for 100.
Mdawg took my tip to the bank. And he always bets 100k chips. Did you think he would be grateful?
Netherlands-Morocco +125 +200 +250; very close, but Morocco win would have been more attractive at +500.
Another nice bet on a tie.
Quote: billryanQuote: DRichI just made my first World Cup bet. Mexico vs Ecuador over 1.5 goals.
link to original post
That looks to be a very exciting match.
link to original post
I will definitely not be watching it. I don't know that I have ever watched a full soccer game.
Messi not bad, either.
Haaland can fill the net, but I expect t they lose next game.
Kane a live long shot.
I got in on stupid bet….. USA to beat England in WC final at + 17760.
1) The US advances at least as far as Mexico at even money
2) One of the three host countries makes the finals
Quote: DRichI just made my first World Cup bet. Mexico vs Ecuador over 1.5 goals.
link to original post
Thanks for the tip. The Mrs. and I are $1.30 richer — and it's only halftime! Shoulda, coulda, woulda bet the farm!
Aztec Stadium offers a much better home-field advantage than any team left in the tournament.
This is the first match I really questioned the judging. It seemed that Mexico got every close call.
Quote: smoothgrhQuote: DRichI just made my first World Cup bet. Mexico vs Ecuador over 1.5 goals.
link to original post
Thanks for the tip. The Mrs. and I are $1.30 richer — and it's only halftime! Shoulda, coulda, woulda bet the farm!
link to original post
Please do not assume that my bets are good or reliable. My extensive soccer knowledge could be explained in a Haiku.
Quote: DRichQuote: smoothgrhQuote: DRichI just made my first World Cup bet. Mexico vs Ecuador over 1.5 goals.
link to original post
Thanks for the tip. The Mrs. and I are $1.30 richer — and it's only halftime! Shoulda, coulda, woulda bet the farm!
link to original post
Please do not assume that my bets are good or reliable. My extensive soccer knowledge could be explained in a Haiku.
link to original post
It’s OK. We put down just $2. Figured it’s more entertaining to have community joy or sorrow.
Quote: billryanThere is an article pinned to my Yahoo front page about the lack of a water break in last night's Mexico-Colombia game. The article repeatedly mentions how Colombia was at a disadvantage at Azteca Stadium. It appears that the AP has done away with its fact-checkers.
link to original post
Colombia was at the ultimate disadvantage. They weren’t even allowed to play. The cancellation of the water breaks tells you all you need to know about the reason they HAVE these ‘hydration breaks’. Due to the weather delay FIFA was able to fit in the ‘hydration break’ commercials before the game. Hence no need for a ‘hydration break’.
Quote: billryanHeroic effort by the US team last night. After an utterly ridiculous red card, the Eagles were forced to play the last thirty-five minutes down a man. Not only did they survive, but they actually expanded their lead and will go into the round of 16 with a good deal of momentum.
link to original post
Heroic? The USA beat the SIXTY FOURTH ranked country in the world. It is so small, it only houses a few more people than…. Brooklyn! And it was essentially a home game as well. Imagine if ‘Brooklyn’ had to play a road game against France in Paris? I’m not feeling a 2-0 win for France being called ‘heroic’.
As far as ‘momentum’, if you believe in such, it certainly would favor Belgium. They were down 2-0 with 5 minutes to go and won, and will have their top scorer on the field, not n the stands like the USA will.
All that factored in, the game is as 50-50 as can be.
GO USA!
Looking at the list of teams in soccer tournaments that won while playing 11-10 for more than a few minutes shows how difficult it is.
One of the post-game announcers called their effort "herculean"; I'll go with heroic.
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: billryanHeroic effort by the US team last night. After an utterly ridiculous red card, the Eagles were forced to play the last thirty-five minutes down a man. Not only did they survive, but they actually expanded their lead and will go into the round of 16 with a good deal of momentum.
link to original post
Heroic? The USA beat the SIXTY FOURTH ranked country in the world. It is so small, it only houses a few more people than…. Brooklyn! And it was essentially a home game as well. Imagine if ‘Brooklyn’ had to play a road game against France in Paris? I’m not feeling a 2-0 win for France being called ‘heroic’.
As far as ‘momentum’, if you believe in such, it certainly would favor Belgium. They were down 2-0 with 5 minutes to go and won, and will have their top scorer on the field, not n the stands like the USA will.
All that factored in, the game is as 50-50 as can be.
GO USA!
link to original post
Well, the 64th ranked team made it into the knockout round, when some higher ranked teams didn't.
As for momentum, Belgium had an exciting come from behind win, but if I were Belgium, I'd worry about why they were behind in the first place, while the US lead wire-to-wire.
Quote: gordonm888The red card was clearly a terrible mistake by the referee. The two players got their feet tied up and the off-balance Balogun stepped backwards (trying to tap the ball) without looking back and inadvertently stepped on the foot/ankle of the other player. There was no intent to foul. That does not merit a red card ejection and suspension for the next game.
link to original post
Agree. Soccer yellow cards/red cards/‘verbal warnings’ are stupid. Water polo and hockey and lacrosse have it right. Timed penalties.
I think a red card should require bad intentions. Balogun just was trying to put his foot on the ground.
I also think carrying over a suspension to next round is stupid, especially for a once every four year tournament.
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: gordonm888The red card was clearly a terrible mistake by the referee. The two players got their feet tied up and the off-balance Balogun stepped backwards (trying to tap the ball) without looking back and inadvertently stepped on the foot/ankle of the other player. There was no intent to foul. That does not merit a red card ejection and suspension for the next game.
link to original post
Agree. Soccer yellow cards/red cards/‘verbal warnings’ are stupid. Water polo and hockey and lacrosse have it right. Timed penalties.
I think a red card should require bad intentions. Balogun just was trying to put his foot on the ground.
I also think carrying over a suspension to next round is stupid, especially for a once every four year tournament.
link to original post
He's responsible to where his foot goes, intention or otherwise. Nobody else.
Carrying over the red card disincentives naughty behavior. Want to participate and play in a once-every-four-year tourny? Then be on your best behavior.
