Stuart Eccles

Father, husband, runner

[Chris @CWeatherspoon_]

Entire Portugal World Cup campaign was essentially a case study of football in service of a celebrity. An immensely talented group of players all made to kowtow to a 41-year-old acting like a child up front. Embarrassing

[Belgian Red Devils @BelRedDevils]

Overturn this. 🧏‍♂️ #USABEL

[Callum @_callumstone]

Iran couldn’t get visas. They didn’t intervene.

A Somalian referee couldn’t get a visa. They didn’t intervene.

Fans of Muslim countries couldn’t get a visa. They didn’t intervene.

Ronaldo got a red card. Intervened.

USA player got a red card. Intervened.

F*** FIFA. Corrupt.

[Football on TNT Sports @footballontnt]

List of players to have their red cards overturned (or suspended) at the World Cup, since the card was introduced in 1970:

🇺🇸 Florian Balogun

End of list.

[Rachel Kryshak @RachelKryshak]

To be clear: Whether it is or isn’t a red to Balogun is now irrelevant. Government interference is a violation of FIFA Article 2 & 15, and the punishment is disqualification and suspension. Nepal was suspended.

This is an admission of the violation.

[Bosnian Football @BosniaNTBall]

Whether it is or isn’t a red to Balogun is now irrelevant. Government interference is a violation of FIFA Article 2 & 15, and the punishment is disqualification and suspension. #FIFAWorldCup

[Stuart Eccles @EcclesStuart85]

@RealDGio Never have, unlikely ever will. Seemingly don't understand rules, structure and governance

[Kylian Mbappé @KMbappe]

Madame Celeste Amarilla,
Vous êtes une femme méprisable et indigne de sa fonction.
Vous ne représentez pas le Paraguay, ce pays qui a transpiré la passion et l’honneur tout au long de la compétition. Par votre inconscience et votre racisme décomplexé, le monde entier a déjà oublié le parcours et l’effort historique que vos joueurs ont réalisés durant cette coupe du monde pour laisser place à une dame incompétente donnant la pire image possible de son pays.
Je ne laisserai jamais aux gens comme elle, la liberté de laisser propager leur haine et leur racisme à travers le monde.

[Tim Stillman ⭐️⭐️ @timstillman_]

Just resign.

[Daniel Austin @_Dan_Austin]

Just to be clear, then. FIFA:

1) can't possibly intervene when Iran are forced to move, a referee is denied a visa, or fans are barred from the USA

2) can absolutely intervene when a decision goes against the USA that Donald Trump doesn't like

Smashing. All know where we stand

[Phil Costa @_PhilCosta]

Overturning the Balogun suspension is absolutely insane work. Not that Infantino has made any attempt to hide his corruption or ties with Trump, but FIFA can’t just pick and choose who the rules apply to/for.

I thought the red card was harsh but rules are rules. What a joke.

[Charles Watts @charles_watts]

What an absolute sham.

😂

[James Benge @jamesbenge]

A scandalous decision, FIFA placing its thumb on the scales of the tournament without even feeling compelled to offer a fig leaf of justification. Borderline red cards happen all the time and plenty of teams with more at stake than the USMNT have to just deal with it.

[Lars Sivertsen @larssivertsen]

Two things can be true at the same time here:

The Balogun red was nonsense

FIFA arbitrarily unbanning people based on vibes is terrible for the sport.

A ridiculous organization.

[Tancredi Palmeri @tancredipalmeri]

I had anticipated this about Balogun 3 days ago in my podcast:

I said: “I’m sure FIFA will find a way to suspend Balogun ban as they did last march with Cristiano’s with retroactive decision”.

Never before in the history of World Cup a rule has been overturned so blatantly

[HandofArsenal @HandofArsenal]

Hand on heart, I dont feel sad at all. Im so fucking proud of this group. Won us a PL after 22 years and took us to a UCL final. Kings who will be remembered forever. 99% of Europe would want our season.

Thank you Mikel and Thank you Arsenal.

I recognise my football club again.

[Tim Stillman ⭐️⭐️ @timstillman_]

Fair warning. If you talked any shit about Arsenal on any platform in the last four years. Delete it now. Cos we’re coming for you.

[Arsenal @Arsenal]

This belongs to all of us.

[Stuart Eccles @EcclesStuart85]

@RealDGio Fine margins, best we've looked for a few games, missing timber and cala at fullback, make such a difference as technically their on different level to hincapie /white / mosquera. Turned into a 5 game season now