GreekGod

In search of Nirvana. "Pharmacist" when I want to be.

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

As brilliant and utterly irrepressible as Lionel Messi is, there have been a few occasions during his illustrious career when opponents — and certainly opposition fans — have suggested that he has received “special treatment” from referees.

What is certain is that, between scoring his first and second goals against Algeria, he got lucky. A challenge on Algeria captain Aissa Mandi, who was caught by Messi on his right calf and Achilles tendon, could have earned at least a yellow card — and plausibly a red card — but Polish referee Szymon Marciniak was content to award a free kick.

It was a strange incident. Mandi was in control of the ball, going nowhere fast, and there was little prospect of dispossessing him from Messi’s position. To make a lunge like that, with his studs up, seemed incomprehensible, never mind dangerous.

Special treatment? At the very least it was lenient refereeing. A yellow card would perhaps have been the most widely expected outcome — a red card second — but Messi was certainly lucky to get away scot-free.

✍️ @OliverKay

FREE TO READ: https://t.co/qmXtQ0ErQN

[Melissa Reddy @MelissaReddy_]

Gianni Infantino in 2017, talking about the bidding process for 2026 with particular reference to the travel bans the US had in place then:

“Teams who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup. That is obvious.

“We are now in the process of defining the bid requirements. In the world there are many countries who have bans, travel bans, visa requirements and so on and so forth. It’s obvious when it comes to FIFA competitions, any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup.

“The requirements will be clear. And then each country can make up their decision, whether they want to bid or not based on the requirements.”

[Melissa Reddy @MelissaReddy_]

Gianni Infantino knocked down all the reporting over visa concerns for this World Cup in August 2025: “I think it’s important to clarify this. There is a lot of misconception out there. Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year.

“There is a process to go through to get visas and so on. This process will be smooth…

“We want to unite the world and we will unite the world next year. The world needs occasions of unity, of bringing teams together, of bringing people together, of bringing fans together... So again everyone will be welcome, be positive and you will see it will be a great, great celebration of the greatest FIFA World Cup ever.”

No, again we are just meant to look the other way and allow this thing we love so much, that we want to enjoy, that we can map our whole lives around, to be used and abused.

Again we are told about unity and inclusion when division, disparity and denial is the reality.

It is a great, great celebration of getting more money whatever it takes, no matter who has to pay the price. The greatest showpiece of allowing - unopposed! - the man who is meant to protect and grow the people’s game into playing celebrity, massaging his own ego and that of heads of state.

The biggest, most expensive, least accessible World Cup ever. The thing we love and all the beautiful pieces of it we’ve lost.

[Hussain Shiyam 🇵🇸❓🎈 @ShiyamHussain]

This is utter bullshit. When Indonesia refused to grant the Israeli under 17 team visa’s for the 2023 U-20 World Cup, FIFA stripped Indonesia’s hosting rights and moved it to Argentina. So @FIFAcom can stop with the lies.

[Success Sam @Samsuccess_4]

"Sharia laws will stop prostitution"

Let Sharia law stop banditry first, I will rather we keep having prostitute than keep experiencing terrorism

[Luai Ahmed @JustLuai]

If you believe in Sharia, live in a country that applies Sharia. There's 57 of them.

Don’t move to a secular state and then demand Sharia.

[ltsnskbst @ltsnskbst]

@TheTennisLetter How about that?

[GreekGod @TomRobinhood]

@CleanThing_ Maybe but I no fit lie give you

[Emmanuel Echeta @PenTitan]

Tinubu: "And so... the groundnut oil must never run before sgidoksvhdb 'cause where do we go from there...?"

Idiots: 👏👏👏👏👏

Obi: "If you look at our energy production capacity, we are just at 43% of our potential"

Idiots: "Lol. This is why I said Obi can never be president. We are at 45%, not 43%. All this man does is lie. How do we put our country in the hands of someone who always falsifies figures to prove a point?"

[GreekGod @TomRobinhood]

Cry for 500 level slam. Mtscheew

[Clint. @CleanThing_]

Una go cry seh @______efanxiety @vin_moneta @ThisDaeve2 @TomRobinhood

[Cove 🌊 @Scenario_Cove]

@aromeuloko00 The day Haaland tapped Arteta on the shoulder and told him to stay humble, and everyone was telling Arsenal fans how Haaland had every right to do that because he's won more than Arteta

[Pharaoh👳🏾‍♂️👑 @MrMekzy_]

They are people’s children, people’s parents, people’s spouses. They’ve spent 20 days in captivity. We cannot normalize silence! This too heartbreaking!💔

[Oloye. @Ol0ye]

The most important job of any govt is the protection of lives and property.

Tinubu has failed at his most important mandate.

@officialABAT should not be seeking reelection.

Tinubu should resign.

More than 6k Nigerian lives lost under your watch means you failed.

Resign.

[Dr. Maalouf ‏ @realMaalouf]

HEARTBREAKING: Her 10-month-old baby was cut in half with a knife in front of her, her husband shot dead, and she watched them split her second child's skull with a machete. They also cut off one of her hands.

This is life for Christians in Nigeria. The media remains silent.

[Oloye. @Ol0ye]

Rashida Tajudeen -11, Ahmed Ramoni -8, Abdulsalam Toyib -4, Baraka Abioye -16, Fatimo Jimoh -15, Hassan Azeez -14, Joshua Adeleke -13, Samuel Oyedele -7, Emmanuel Oyedele -4, Lege Taiwo -12, Balkis Ayanwale -8, Asa David 10, Shuaibu Aliyu 10

@officialABAT #BringBackOurChildren

[Ilemona @I_Am_Ilemona]

Damilare Oderinde - 8 years old
Deborah Adebowale - 5 years old
Aisha Oguntowo - 10 years old
Lege Taiwo - 12 years old
Balkis Ayanwale - 8 years old
Asa David - 10 years old
Shuaibu Aliyu – 10 years old
Ahmed Aliyu – 7 years old
Muiz Aliyu – 5 years old
Jomiloju Ogunlola – age not known
Agune Noah – 8 years old
Elizabeth Abadi – 5 years old
Tosin Abadi – 9 years old
Pius Stephen – 5 years old
Hannah Ojo – 14 years old
Habidat Ayanwale – 7 years old
Mary Gabriel – 6 years old
Jacob Gabriel - age unknown

@officialABAT #BringBackOurChildren

[KING OF ALL SPORTS @Emmanuel_Tips]

They have names. They have families. Bring them home. 💔

[Oloye. @Ol0ye]

Damilare Oderinde -8, Deborah Adebowale -5, Aisha Oguntowo -10, Lege Taiwo -12, Balkis Ayanwale -8, Asa David -10, Shuaibu Aliyu –10, Ahmed Aliyu –7, Muiz Aliyu – 5, Jomiloju Ogunlola –Agune Noah – 8, Elizabeth Abadi –5, Tosin Abadi –9, Pius Stephen – 5, Hannah Ojo – 14, Habidat Ayanwale – 7, Mary Gabriel – 6, Jacob Gabriel

@officialABAT #BringBackOurChildren

[Oloye. @Ol0ye]

Mrs. Alamu Folawe – Principal

Mr. Ojo Jonathan – Vice Principal

Mr. Olatunde Zacchaeus – Teacher

Mr. John Olaleye – Teacher

Mr. Michael Oyedokun – Teacher RIP

Mrs. Oladeji – Teacher

Mary Akanbi – Teacher

Mr Adesiyan Adegboye - RIP

@officialABAT #BringBackOurTeachers

[Ebi Dau @DondeonB]

There is no problem with Japaing to do care work. The disgusting lack of dignity in labour is the reason thieves and charlatans who call themselves pastors are allowed to say such nonsense and the congregation doesn't walk out on them.