Beiju Patel

Englishmen living abroad, Man Utd fan, sports fan, traveller, foodie,

[SethOfficial🇵🇹 @UTD_Seth001]

🚨Riyad Mahrez on the controversial Lionel Messi challenge against Aïssa Mandi during Argentina vs Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Algeria’s shameful performance:

🗣️ “I know this won’t be a popular opinion, but for me, if that challenge is made by almost any other player in this tournament, we’re having a completely different conversation.

If that is a defender wearing a different shirt, a midfielder from a smaller nation, or simply a player without Lionel Messi’s name on the back, I believe there is a serious chance a red card is shown.

That is my honest view.

The contact was significant.

When you see a boot come up and catch an opponent like that, players have been sent off for similar incidents before.

That is why so many people are debating it.

What frustrates players is consistency.

We are always told the rules are the same for everyone.

But moments like this make people question whether that is really the case.

Messi is one of the greatest players in football history.

Nobody can deny that.

He does not need special treatment.

His football speaks for itself.

That is why controversies like this become so big.

Because people look at the incident and wonder if the decision would have been the same if another player had made the challenge.

Of course, the referee and VAR saw it differently.

They reviewed it and decided there was no red card.

That decision is final.

But do not be surprised that players, fans and pundits continue to argue about it.

Because if football wants credibility, then consistency must be the same whether your name is Lionel Messi or anybody else.

That is the debate people are having tonight.”

{@beINSPORTS }

[FC Bayern München @FCBayern]

Best 9 in the world. RT if you agree.

[Matt Braynard @MattBraynard]

We're so back.

An entrepreneur is restoring Pizza Huts to their former glory.

[Beiju Patel @BeijuPatel]

@goalsside @markpwallis lol. First goal???

[Beiju Patel @BeijuPatel]

@Neilbear27 @GordonRamsay Naan breads? Thought it was burnt sweet potatoes

[Just Jen ℞ 🫡🇺🇸 @JustJenRX]

Bro! She just DESTROYED Jimmy Kimmel

[Pop Nova @PopNovaNews]

The GREATEST and most LEGENDARY bluff in the history of TV.

[Houston Texans @HoustonTexans]

LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW WHO THE 🤬 THE TEXANS ARE!

[Beiju Patel @BeijuPatel]

@HoustonTexans “7️⃣”

[Houston Texans @HoustonTexans]

Class was in session 📝

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

The Adoration of the Maga. A few thoughts. It all felt a step too far by Gianni Infantino. The award of the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize felt more to do with its president’s desire to please powerful politicians as much as Donald Trump’s love of such glitzy, expensive offerings of loyalty last seen in medieval courts.

It felt more about politics than sport, a risky game for Fifa to play whenever it wants to bring a national association into line for perceived interference by government in the future. The Trump trophy weakens Fifa statutes. It also distracted from the real trophy, the World Cup, and the group-stage draw, traditionally a celebration about bringing countries together. Infantino took his eye off the balls.

A football draw designed to work out who plays who and (eventually) where and when is not the time or place for such politics. Infantino wasn’t speaking for the world in bestowing the Peace Prize, as he claimed. So presumptuous. So out of touch. Many probably agree that Trump has been a force for good in geopolitics, some might disagree. Most would probably feel such decisions should be left to experienced experts like the Nobel Committee and, please, can we get on with a football draw.

It’s spectacularly naïve or simply arrogant for Fifa to enter such non-football areas. It feels more and more that this was as much an Infantino initiative as Fifa’s. Infantino was supposed to drain the swamp when he arrived at Fifa in 2016 in the wake of assorted corruption scandals bedevilling the governing body of world football. How fitting that the nadir of Infantino’s propensity for self-aggrandisement as leader of what’s supposed to be a team game came in Washington. It was there that Trump promised to transform politics with his “drain the swamp” rhetoric, also in 2016.

The selfie moment was particularly cringe-worthy. Infantino forgets that football is the star of the show, not a 55-year lawyer. A senior football executive, who’s been at the heart of the English and European game for more than 20 years, messaged me during the drawn-out draw with his verdict on Infantino. “I feel revulsion, anger, shame, disgust – how has our sport been taken over by a Swiss ***** and turned into a total travesty???” He also pointed out that ensuring the leaders of USA, Mexico and Canada each somehow pulled out their own country’s name was not a good look for a draw based on chance.

Great for the cameras, though. Flash, bang, wallop, what a picture of Infantino's priorities. And who gets the next FIFA Peace Prize? And wouldn't Infantino have gained more respect had he used the money for the Trump trophy to subsidise excessive ticket costs? He's lost sight of what should be the real priorities for the leader of football. The game.

It's sad, really. Many sensible people work at Fifa, passionate about the game not their own ego, but it's alarming what happens to the leadership when they take power there. Even the great football manager Arsene Wenger has changed since becoming Chief of Global Football Development at Fifa. He now campaigns for more games, backing the expanded World Cup, which he would have railed against as a widely-admired, free-thinking club manager, fiercely protective of his players' well-being. "I believe that 48 teams is the right number." Arsene, just listen to yourself.

Many fans probably won’t lose much sleep that Wenger dances to Fifa's tune or that Infantino cosies up to Trump, Aramco and co. Some probably think Fifa’s a video game. Most just can’t wait for the football. The game’s about Mbappe and Messi, Haaland and Salah, Kane and Dembele, not Infantino and Trump.

The game’s about the Tartan Army, the brilliant Mexican following, the ever-hopeful English, the mobile carnival of Brazilians and the millions of other fans flocking to venue cities next summer, only a third with tickets. The USA is prepared for the party. I covered USA 94 and you couldn’t really tell there was a tournament on, certainly where I was in Detroit, Chicago and DC. You will this time, also in Canada. Mexico's total immersion was never in doubt given their passion for the game.

Infantino should remember this. He runs a great football organisation, not a political organisation. He needs to re-focus. Fifa is undeniably a force for good in many countries. The Fifa Foundation runs a new community programme that supports 154,924 people in 54 nations. Its new Digital Education Programme works on computer literacy amongst disadvantaged groups, helping them into the workplace. It’s easy to say it’s all about Infantino (Foundation board president), soft power and ensuring he keeps countries onside, voting for him, but the Foundation undeniably changes lives.

Infantino needs to look at his Adoration of the Maga and remember what he should be doing for football: serving it, not himself. #FIFAWorldCup.

[The Figen @TheFigen_]

Third grade teacher promised her class hot chocolate if she made this shot.
It will remain a wonderful memory for them.

[Treymond Green be wildin' 🖕🏽😤 @TreyPfromCali]

Dont EVER compare Taylor Swift or anybody else for that matter.

GOAT.

[big john the boshfather @Johnfis08605918]

Just visited Dragon house as a show of support. Wonderful people. Owner has lived here for 20 years. Bosh.

[Beiju Patel @BeijuPatel]

@Ray_RMCF @markpwallis Paul Merson is

[🎸 Rock History 🎸 @historyrock_]

A rock band called RPJ sees a kid with a banner asking to play guitar with them. The singer asks him:

- Do you really know how to play guitar?
- Yeah!
- What's your favorite band?
- Guns N' Roses

What happens next is incredible.

[Collin Rugg @CollinRugg]

Charlie Kirk has passed away at the age of 31.

A husband, a father of two, and a man of God. He completely reshaped our country and had so much ahead of him.

Gut-wrenching. Rest in peace, Charlie.

[Manchester United Die Hard Fans @DieHardUtdFans]

Sunil Chhetri, who is 4th most goal scorer in International football with 95 goals, talks about Wayne Rooney.

[Russell Brand @rustyrockets]

Chris Pratt says politics breeds enemies, but blind hatred is worse.

Even if you disagree with RFK Jr., can’t you admit when he’s right? If taking toxic junk out of kids’ food is good, why fight it out of spite?

Don’t poison your kids’ cereal just to “own” the other side.