Louisiana Voice

By Paul Spillman

In what has been the most surprising and uplifting sports story of the summer America discovered World Cup soccer and soccer fans discovered America. American cities have embraced foreign fans and their rituals as if diversity can be cool and fun. The American people have embraced those same foreigners like long lost friends as if inclusion can be cool and, well, fun. And foreign fans have fallen in love with America and Americans.

Social media is exploding with posts from fans the world over saying they had been lied to about America and Americans. Friendly, welcoming people they say. A fabulous country with landscapes you can’t believe. And the culture! The food, the stadiums, the size of everything, the air conditioning! And Ranch dressing. Foreign fans love Ranch dressing. The TSA had to issue an alert to travelers returning home not to pack bottles of it in carry-on luggage. Even yellow school buses delighted foreign visitors.

The most common remark? “America is like a movie! We only see this in movies. But it’s real!” And their experiences with individual Americans? Many were brought to tears trying to describe how friendly and welcoming Americans have been and how sorry they are to have to go home. It’s the kind of perfect “PR” you couldn’t buy if you were spending Elon’s money.

And then President Donald Trump made an appearance and took the shine right off. Trump called Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA. FIFA is the governing body of soccer and shortly after that phone call FIFA modified the one-game suspension for star US striker Folarin Balogun, the team’s leading scorer and considered its best player, to a fine and a “one year probation,” making him eligible for all future matches. Balogun had earned the suspension on a late red card issued by the referee after the Bosnia and Herzegovina team complained in their elimination match with the US.

You don’t need to be a fan of soccer to know FIFA is arguably among the world’s most corrupt organizations and the integrity of officiating has long been an issue for international soccer. But to have the president of the United States so publicly intervene is just an open admission of favoritism and a flaunting of any concern for the integrity of the competition. It has cost America much of the goodwill we had earned by staging a world-class competition. And it reminds foreign fans how America earned that reputation from their country’s media.

Whether or not the call against Balogun was legitimate is a real debate, though the kind of dispute common in all sports. Nor is it any great surprise FIFA was willing to overrule the official on the field. It has done so before. But it was another national embarrassment for America that Trump stepped in. It can only be seen as favoritism, especially given how FIFA had already demonstrated its fealty and submission awarding Trump its inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize.”

Trump was proud of his interference, possibly because he could finally make the World Cup about himself, and took credit for the reversal. He said, “I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports … that wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction … this referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past, he made a call that nobody could believe … he’s our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant … yes, I asked for a review by FIFA.” Nothing like a little pressure from the president of the United States of America, who is just a person that loves sports.

Is this a good time to mention that Folarin Balogun is a birthright American citizen? If the Supreme Court had ruled differently Trump might have called Markwayne Mullin instead of Gianni Infantino. Balogun might have found himself in an ICE detention center awaiting deportation instead of leading the US World Cup team.

Or maybe not. Favoritism and cronyism are common practices with Trump and perfectly fine with his supporters. Perhaps Trump would have made an exception for Balogun and laid a heavy hand on FIFA anyway. Because he’s just a person that loves sports.

But it was all for naught as the US men’s team was eliminated by an elite, if aging, European squad in Belgium, 4-1. Balogun played, but did not score. Immediately following the match Belgium posted photos of their team celebrating, pretending to make a phone call, with the caption “Overturn this!”

In the America we all wished we lived in this would be a scandal, unethical meddling by an American president. But there is an utter void of morals and ethics among the elite in America today whether it’s politicians, corporate leaders, or the sports and entertainment world. “Rules” and “fair play” seem a quaint notion best left for children’s games. After all winning is winning. It doesn’t really matter how you get there. Just as long as you can call yourself a winner. No one exemplifies that better than Trump.

But like so much else with Trump one “scandal” isn’t that scandalous to MAGA voters and soon fades into the background as a new one emerges. And considering how many other issues there are facing America under Trump this one didn’t last beyond the 24-hour life cycle it had.

Still, the World Cup has given us something we didn’t know we needed – a fresh look at ourselves and our home without the yellowed lens of bitter political animosity. What foreign visitors and fans found were neighbors, proud of their communities and their regions, eager to share with strangers and make them feel welcome. Post after post on social media said, “What I love about America is the people are so friendly and helpful. They want to show you around, buy you lunch, pay for your drinks. They just say ‘Hi’ to you, complete strangers, on the sidewalk! This would never happen at home.”

It’s good to be reminded we’re better than our worse selves and that we all really do have something in common. We’re Americans. And the world thinks we’re pretty cool. Maybe, just maybe, we can learn to think that way about each other, too.