James

England have conceded 3 goals for the first time since June 2025 when Jordan Pickford wasn’t in goal. The time before that was June 2022, when Pickford also wasn’t in goal. 😊

🚨 FA made strong representation to FIFA that VAR process incorrectly followed on Quansah red card. Cited referee viewing still image 1st when should be realtime replay. Request for mitigation not accepted. Rules state 2-game ban + no appeal @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74266…

@wildgirldad @JackMac I live in the states, but I was born in the UK. Trust me the unifying force of being a football fan is hating on the blatant corruption of the people who try to ruin your beloved sport. FIFA, UEFA, the EPL, even the FAs they are all the worst.

@Jamesonite @JackMac So derogatory and cheating accusations, with hateful rhetoric pushes American fans away from the sport. I also did not know the negative opinions on FIFA from across the pond.

This is a huge Lalas W. Henry is paid to give opinions. Lalas asks him to explain why it’s wrong with a simple counter argument and Henry continues to say “it’s just my opinion.” Explain your opinion! Why is it wrong!

@wildgirldad @JackMac I think Americans will always have a hard time understanding what football means, the culture and game is very different. I do think most of the backlash is mostly on FIFA and Infantino, we have known FIFA has been corrupt forever but until now we never saw it impact the game.

@Jamesonite @JackMac I can agree with you there. I support my country and team. And the backlash the team is getting I feel is absurd. You want to be mad at Trump, fine, understandable, not going to debate you there sir.

@wildgirldad @JackMac I don't think US soccer or Balogun did anything wrong, it is unfortunately Trump decided to get involved. Which I think for many reasons was wrong. Most of all he took the feel good support many had for the team from some neutrals and pissed it away.

@Jamesonite @JackMac I agree. Too many inconsistencies in the WC. Calling a country cheaters because they felt an injustice was done first is childish. You want to comment your disdain with Trump’s call, then I have no argument with you there.

@wildgirldad @JackMac A ton of headaches would have been saved if the on field call was a yellow and we moved on, the issue was once VAR said to look at it and once you see it the angle thats unfortunately going to be a red card in the modern game and it is very very harsh. Ways VAR ruins the game.

@wildgirldad @JackMac The rules there would have been clear. 1) all red cards have a 1 match ban 2) no in tournament appeals process. That was the rules everyone was made clear of. The US Government made legal resources available. Threatened to go to CAS, made 3 calls, then got a new rule.

@wildgirldad @JackMac Misapplied doesn't equal broken, for instance yesterday the disallowed goal for Egypt could easily be viewed as misapplied VAR use.

@Jamesonite @JackMac Andy Davies, former premiere league referee went on record saying he should have never been given a red card on the play alone. Then said “misapplied protocol of the VAR system was used to issue said red card.”

@wildgirldad @JackMac Problem is there is not currently a way to do that, at club level all FAs have a challenge system. FIFA hasn't helped itself here because it has offered no guidance or explanation, so can any world leader just ring up and get a red card suspended now? That's the problem process.

@Jamesonite @JackMac Yes, which is why I’m astounded that it was a “well, it was probably wrong, but oh well, that’s that.” A 24 year old kid on the biggest stage was given a red what seems unjustifiable. FIFA should have stepped in immediately after the game and reviewed this.

@wildgirldad @JackMac Again find me anyone on record who has said VAR was violated, because most of the Football(soccer) media has the exact opposite reporting that VAR was in fact followed. This is a social media misinformation thing.

@Jamesonite @JackMac Fact of the matter, FIFA has been inconsistent the entire World Cup. Admitting that the VAR system went against protocol to issue a red card and do nothing about it was an injustice.

@wildgirldad @yadadoo20 @JackMac It is not though. Literally happens all the time. It sucks. Most people who watched the game agreed. But getting the US President involved to invent new rules for his team so two teams were playing under different rules is sporting integrity. Thats worse in the eyes of the world.

@Jamesonite @yadadoo20 @JackMac OK, understandable. But using tactics that exceeded normal protocol to boot a player, is an abuse of power. He wasn’t even called for the foul originally. The methods not used by typical protocol is what got him the red card. Not sure the argument here

@wildgirldad @JackMac This image was shared often, go back and watch what they did on VAR. They watched the initial challenge in real time. Then slowed down and frozen for the fact point of contact for a physical offense. If your claim about VAR was true, the easy out was for FIFA to say that.

@Jamesonite @JackMac They use slow motion and still images to issue a red card. That’s against protocol. It’s already been stated. Prior referees have already came to the defense of the player. FIFA broke its own protocol. It was up to them to make it right.

@wildgirldad @yadadoo20 @JackMac I'm going to follow up here,this is not what occurred. IFAB guidance on VAR uses the language "in general" and "should". So guidance isn't iron clad rules. You can argue VAR exceeded protocol it would be more akin to they gave you a speding ticket for going 2 MPH over.

@yadadoo20 @Jamesonite @JackMac The review had passed on the field. Later admitting the review went against VAR protocol to issue a red card. Like planting evidence on someone arrested, and still throwing them in jail. Take it up with FIFA and the poor VAR process.

@wildgirldad @JackMac The red card wasn't illegitimate, it was harsh. The red card wasn't overturned he still has a red card. VAR protocol was not broken that is misinformation that has never been actually verified. Trumps involvement itself is potentially another rules violation.

@Jamesonite @JackMac The red card was illegitimate. It was stated that the VAR protocols were broken. Trump didn’t make a decision, he asked for it to be reviewed, which should have been done by the US Team itself. An illegitimate red card by illegal protocols in the game would make that cheating.

@WillRenegar @usmntonly The key difference is US team were acting under an assumption an appeal could happen, Belgium was told it wasn't possible. Calvinball the day before after the intervention of the US Government is two sides operating under different rules. Ronaldo call was wrong, but different.

@usmntonly I hate Alexi Lalas, but Henry is being a pussy not wanting to comment on the exact same situation with Ronaldo. If you think Ronaldo should get special treatment, stand behind it and tell us why.

It got tense between Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas when discussing the Folarin Balogun red card following the USMNT's defeat to Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16.

@AndrewMarchand 1) Ronaldo did serve a 1 match ban still. 2) Ronaldo should have served all 3 match ban. 3) The overturn also came 1 week after Ronaldo @ WH dinner w/Infantino sort of same. 4) The US gov Calvinball the rules the day before was shameful. 5) Whataboutism.

I'm on Alexi's side on this one. Henry chose to be on the Fox desk. Alexi is asking a fair question. Henry is too good for it. Awkward.

@tomrenniesoccer That was a shame, that is VAR excessively getting involved.

They’ve gone so far back to try and disallow this Egypt goal. What a disgrace.

@jemelehill The Ronaldo call was wrong too, however they aren't identical as one card was before and one was during and he serveda one match ban. Plus that overturn happened a week after he was at a White House event as well... so. The issue was telling Belgium and US two different facts.

FIFA is also corrupt. We’re not dealing with some paragon of virtue here. FIFA has proven that they are prone to influence. Hell, they postponed Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension so he wouldn’t miss any World Cup matches. And I’m supposed to clutch my pearls over a Trump phone call?

@George_Cover0 @schadjoe Correct, but the lack of opportunity for the women's game game a massive advantage to the US that advantage has narrowed now the club structure in Europe has emphasized the investment in the women's game. Now we are seeing the catch up of the traditional youth model vs US model.

@Jamesonite @schadjoe Title XI didn't affect youth soccer. Just college soccer. So no, the answer isn't as easy. And our college soccer programs had that big of an impact - then our youth soccer "development" - male or female - shouldn't be the issues

We have a lot of dudes like these Belgium dudes They play American football