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7 hours ago
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SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF
It is measure of just how much more shameless and obsequious Fifa has become under the presidency of Gianni Infantino that news of its decision to unsuspend Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal’s first two group games at next year’s Geopolitics World Cup has been greeted with little more than an amused, weary eye-roll at the brass neckery of it all. Issued with a straight red card for violent conduct during a defeat at the hands of the Republic of Ireland, the preening Portuguese showpony was issued with a standard three-match ban, the first game of which he spent on the Naughty Step during his side’s subsequent 9-1 demolition of Armenia. His was an absence that didn’t so much make the heart grow fonder, as the team grow in stature and confidence.
Two days later, the plot thickened like a cold bechamel sauce: Ronaldo was a guest at a formal White House dinner hosted by Club World Cup medal-winner Donald Trump and also attended by Infantino and Mohammed bin Salman, among other truly awful people. In a subsequent turn of events that is almost certainly in no way connected to this hellish gathering, the five-times Ballon d’Or winner learned that the final two games of his ban have been suspended by Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee for “a one-year probation period”. Considering how detrimental the presence of Ronaldo in their squad is to what should be an otherwise extremely decent chance of winning the World Cup, the Portuguese FA has yet to announce if it will appeal against this decision.
While Fifa cited Ronaldo’s previous good conduct as the reason for suspending the lion’s share of his ban for his first dismissal on the international stage, Football Daily couldn’t help but notice that the same courtesy was not extended to Tigran Barseghyan when he received his first ever red card while representing his country in almost identical circumstances. After receiving his marching orders for violent conduct against an Irish player in Dublin, the Armenia captain was handed a three-match ban. Barseghvan has since sat out two internationals and will miss his nation’s next competitive match, while his thoughts on the pardon granted to Ronaldo are not known. Due to miss their respective nations’ opening group games at the World Cup after receiving red cards in qualifying [albeit neither of which were for violent conduct – Football Daily Ed], Argentina’s Nicolás Otamendi and Ecuador’s Moisés Caicedo were also unavailable for comment, or almost certainly would have been if Football Daily had attempted to do some proper journalism and get in touch with either of them or their representatives.
In other preferential treatment news, Fifa has revealed next week’s Geopolitics World Cup draw will ensure Spain and Argentina, the competition’s top seeds, will be kept apart until the final as long as they win their respective groups. An unprecedented wheeze when it comes to World Cup knockout stages, it could also benefit England, who will have to make it to the semis if they are to be knocked out by either of the top two seeds, or the final if they’re to lose to France. Of course, the more pessimistic view is that this new system will serve only to increase the chances of Thomas Tuchel’s side suffering a humiliating Round of 32 defeat on penalties at the hands of Scotland, Haiti or Curaçao.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“My outlook can sometimes be bordering on deluded. I understand the optics of it … The logical side of my brain knew that coming back here at 35 was probably more to fill this role. But I have zero regrets. I’ve loved being here” – after 1,029 days without a game, Tom Heaton gets his chat on with Sam Dalling to explain why he still loves it on the Manchester United sidelines.
Surely the benchmark for ‘lamping’ your teammate (yesterday’s Football Daily) was set in January 1979 by ‘Killer Hales’ and Mike ‘Flash’ Flanagan at the Valley. Without the benefit of today’s array of camera angles and pundits to know-it-all, it was difficult to judge who started it, but the football reasoning was that Killer thought Flash had delayed a pass and prevented him scoring. However, there were some mutterings about off-field tensions and they went their separate ways. Five years later, amazingly, they were both back in the Addicks’ front line” – Geoff Williams.
I found it interesting that a slap to the head did not cause Michael Keane to fall to the pitch and roll around in apparent agony. Surely Keane should have been booked for his embarrassingly flagrant act of simulated stoicism?” – Ian Potter.
Idrissa Gueye’s straight red might turn out to be the least of his worries. Apparently his reward for winning this eliminator is a crack at the title against local favourite, Duncan Ferguson” – Allastair McGillivray.
Send letters to [email protected]. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Allastair McGillivray. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here.
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