Charlie Alford

Jarell Quansah receives two-match ban after Mexico red card

Post author:Faz Ali
Post published:10 July 2026
Post last modified:10 July 2026

England’s last‑16 win over Mexico came at a cost. Jarell Quansah, starting at right‑back in the Azteca stadium, was sent off just before the hour mark and has now been handed a two‑match suspension after FIFA ruled his challenge on Jesús Gallardo amounted to serious foul play. The decision leaves Thomas Tuchel short of options on the right side of defence as England prepare for Norway on Saturday. Corrupt FIFA extends ban The incident came in the 54th minute. Quansah slid in on Gallardo, catching him high on the shin. Referee Alireza Faghani initially let play continue, but VAR intervened. After…

Trump confirms he asked FIFA to revoke US striker’s red card

Post author:Maddison Wheeldon
Post published:6 July 2026
Post last modified:7 July 2026

Donald Trump has, remarkably, confirmed that he intervened with FIFA to overturn a red card for US striker Folarin Balogun. The World Cup 2026 has not been without political themes this tournament, particularly considering how players and referees have been prevented from making it into the US to compete with their national teams. However, Trump’s latest intervention really takes the biscuit. The lawless US President lobbied FIFA in three phone calls made since 29 June to suspend a red card levelled against US striker Folarin Balogun. This lobbying has been successful, with the President saying: Thank you to FIFA for doing…

How Folarin Balogun’s red card led to FIFA U-turn and Trump tweet

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:6 July 2026
Post last modified:6 July 2026

The red card shown to US national team striker, Folarin Balogun, during the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 of the World Cup became one of the most controversial incidents of the tournament. It spilled over from the pitch to reach the White House, before culminating in an exceptional decision by FIFA to suspend the penalty. This opened the door to unprecedented political interference and commentary. Folarin Balogun reprimanded for tackle In the 64th minute of the match, Balugon was shown a red card following a VAR review for a challenge that the referee deemed an assault…

World Cup: First red card in football history for mouth covering

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:20 June 2026
Post last modified:20 June 2026

The 2026 World Cup witnessed the first sending-off in football history under the new law regarding covering the mouth during altercations between players, after the referee showed a direct red card to Paraguay national team player Miguel Almirón during the match against the Turkey national team. The decision came after a review by the VAR, which showed Almirón covering his mouth with his hand during a heated verbal exchange with a Turkish player, an action the referee deemed a clear violation of the amendment that came into effect a few months before the start of the tournament. World Cup new records…

Yemen announces Red Sea is closed to Israel-linked vessels

Post author:Skwawkbox
Post published:8 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

Yemen’s Ansar Allah de facto government has announced the Red Sea is closed to Israeli and Israel-linked shipping. In a statement, Yemen military said the action is “in response to US-Zionist aggression” against the country plus Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. The announcement comes after Yemen joined Iran’s missile strikes on Israel in retaliation for the occupation’s bombing on the Dahiyeh area of Beirut. Statement from Yemen In response to US-Zionist aggression against the axis of jihad & resistance in Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen – and rejecting the Zionist project for “Greater Israel” under the “New Middle East” – the…

Hindutva’s red carpet to US tech is an own goal

Post author:Nandita Lal
Post published:29 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau recently said the quiet part out loud, stating that the US will not let India develop like China. Landau’s remarks are honest about what the USA sees India as: a periphery country, needed to extract profits from by exploiting its low wages, decimating its environment, and plundering its resources. This is similar to how Britain, in 1947, used the sterling balances negotiations to restrict India’s industrial development. Though Britain owed India over £1 billion from World War II, Whitehall froze these funds. Britain leveraged “informational asymmetries while Indian sovereignties were in flux,” which ensured…