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By Dr Rahim Said
Normally, presidents are expected to concern themselves with wars, inflation, trade disputes and nuclear weapons. Now the President of the United States apparently has time to moonlight as a football appeals committee.
According to reports, Donald Trump personally telephoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to seek a review of Folarin Balogun’s automatic suspension after the American striker received a red card. Soon afterwards, the suspension was reportedly lifted.
Forget VAR. Welcome to VPR — Very Presidential Review.
If this is true, it drags football into a level of farce even Hollywood would have rejected for being too on-the-nose.
Imagine the possibilities. A yellow card? Call the White House. An offside decision? Ring Washington. Penalty not awarded? Ask the President.
The referee may soon need two communication devices — one linked to VAR in Zurich and another to the Oval Office, because apparently the laws of the game now come with a political hotline. This is more than football madness.
This is gila kuasa in football boots, stomping all over the idea that rules still matter. FIFA has spent decades preaching that politics must stay out of football. National associations are suspended for government interference. Countries have been punished for ministers meddling in football administration.
Apparently, there is one exception. If the government happens to be the United States.
One can almost picture the scene: “Hello Gianni, it’s Donald.”
“What seems to be the problem, Mr President?”
“Our striker is suspended.”
“I’ll look into it immediately.”
If ordinary football fans tried the same stunt, they would be told to stop wasting everyone’s time and listen to the recorded message: “Your call is important to us.” In FIFA’s case, it seems your call is important only if you can threaten the entire institution with it. The real scandal is not one player’s suspension.
It is the grotesque message that rules are negotiable when the right ego picks up the phone.
Football survives because millions still pretend, however reluctantly, that the laws apply to everyone. Once fans suspect that political muscle can erase disciplinary decisions, every contentious call becomes another reminder that fairness is just a slogan for the powerless.
The World Cup is supposed to be decided by goals, not by geopolitical bullying dressed up as concern. Imagine if leaders around the world adopted the same shameless habit.
The British Prime Minister could appeal a handball. The French President could request extra time. The Saudi Crown Prince might ask for two penalties instead of one. And why stop at football?
Perhaps Wimbledon should let presidents overrule line judges. The Olympics could hand out bonus gold medals by executive order. Formula One could let prime ministers shorten pit stops for their favourites.
Absurd? Of course.
Which is exactly why this story is so embarrassing. Donald Trump has never been able to resist inserting himself into any spectacle large enough to flatter his ego. If there is a camera, a crowd and a chance to dominate the conversation, he will find a way to make it about him.
But football should be one place where the most powerful politician on earth counts for no more than the fan in the back row shouting at the referee.
If a presidential phone call can influence a football suspension today, tomorrow, people will quite reasonably ask what else can be fixed with a call from Washington.
Perhaps the next FIFA slogan should be updated. “The Game Is Global.” Terms and conditions apply. Especially if the White House is calling.
The views expressed here are entirely those of the writer.
WE