Aaron Walth

Mid-range jumpers are not dead

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@TalkSoccer Thought Weston badly misplaced a handful of balls but makes up for it consistently in many ways.
Agree that Jedi needs to be on point against Belgium. We’ll need Dest in attack mode, too.

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@MatchReportH Might hang this on my wall for the next three days

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@usmntonly Oof did they not show this replay on the broadcast? Tough

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

On the basis of the images made available to referee Raphael Claus, the decision to send off USA forward Folarin Balogun is understandable. From the vantage point presented, via slow motion and still images, the threshold of serious foul play is met.

This challenge did appear to endanger the safety of an opponent. Those ensconced in FIFA’s refereeing hub may see that as an open and shut case. Yet to most observers and many of those who have played the game, at any level at all, this was a miscarriage of justice.

To show the challenge to the referee at a different speed to the incident he originally adjudicated upon is to warp and distort the judgment, removing context from the call. Slowed down, an accidental collision can resemble a premeditated challenge. A bad challenge can become a horror challenge.

In the case of Balogun, the freeze frame and slow-motion images eliminated the essential context. This was a simple ball played forward by Antonee Robinson, where two players jostled for position, and as Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic got in front of Balogun, the forward, off balance, landed in an unfortunate — but clearly unintentional manner — on the ankle of his opponent.

In football’s history, it has sometimes required major incidents at big international tournaments to accelerate change.

FIFA must use Balogun’s injustice as a line in the sand, ending once and for all the unfair and disfiguring use of slow-motion and freeze frames.

📝 @AdamCrafton_

https://t.co/pSW8R7RbSS

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@MatchReportH Okay Zlatan a world class poet now too

[USMNT_STAN @StanUsmnt]

Just watched our third WC win in 19 days… we had 3 WC wins in the last 24 yrs.

Just watched our 10th WC goal in 19 days… we had 8 in the last 12 years.

Just watched our 2nd WC shutout win in 19 days… we had 2 in the last 24 yrs.

What a time to be a USMNT fan!!

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@FiruBR @BillSimmons It’s absolutely undoubtedly with mountains of evidence not always a red there

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@BillSimmons Pulisic our best player but the rest is on point

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@RGIII Pulisic still the best player but THE REST OF YOUR POINT STILL STANDS

[SportsCenter @SportsCenter]

Mark McKenzie led the USMNT in prayer after the Americans moved on to the Round of 16 🙏

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@JackMac Appeal would probably go about how NBA challenges go. Too much pride to admit mistake on a “subjective” call

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@jhovey34 It’s a 50/50 ball. He’s fighting for position. Cleats coming down on the leg is so clearly incidental. Hard to believe it was given a red on review. Slow motion destroying perception.

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@usmntonly They’re hardly that similar. Balogun is reaching leg out challenging for positioning. Playing toward the free ball. Messi is following a player with possession, in no position to make a play.
I hate red cards and don’t want Messi out either, but the balogun red is mind boggling

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@jennyachiu Every challenge in a contact sport can endanger the safety of an opponent. Every single one does that. Impossible to apply a rule using that statement only with no other context.

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@FOXSports Red cards (not second yellows) must come with intention. He’s literally just fighting for position and foot comes down on him. Ridiculous to kick him and out be suspended for the next.

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@FOXSports Ref so caught up in the optics of the foot on the leg while taking absolutely nothing else into consideration. Hard to believe it was reviewed to be given a red card. Horrific

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@BleacherReport @FOXSports Pathetic. Taking a WC knockout game away from him too.

[Futbol Frenzy @Futbol_Frenzy]

@USMNT

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

Just saw Belgium-Senegal score and jaw dropped, turned it on, and in 3 minutes two goals to equalize. 😱 How can you not love the World Cup!!

[Aaron Walth @aaron_walth]

@FOXSports FSU and SC without a doubt