Politics
English fans’ drinking gives Starmer-Burnham transition a headache
LONDON — As England continues its World Cup campaign, back across the Atlantic a political row about soccer’s drinking culture is in full swing.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer broke with his imminent successor Andy Burnham over whether soccer fans should be allowed to consume alcohol while watching games.
Starmer is due to hand over power to Burnham in two weeks and has promised a smooth transition and to support his successor without interfering from the sidelines.
But after Burnham said over the weekend that there was “something wrong” with a ban on fans drinking in view of the pitch — which he pointed out is allowed at rugby league games — and that he might overturn it, Starmer pushed back.
“Police chiefs have warned against the relaxing rules of drinking in the stands, and we think that’s sensible to follow,” a spokesperson for Starmer said this morning when asked whether he agrees with Burnham.
“Fans who go to matches in football league can drink before the game, in the concourse during half time and can stay late after the match or head to the pub, so there’s plenty of chances to get a drink. But it’s sensible to follow this advice.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday defended his organization’s decision to defer U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension ahead of the Monday World Cup match between the U.S. and Belgium.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent,” Infantino said in a statement posted on X. “I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree. What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them.”
On Sunday, FIFA announced that its disciplinary committee suspended the red card that Balogun received during the U.S. game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he had called Infantino to lobby for the suspension to be lifted, though the president insisted that “all I did was ask for a review,” and “I didn’t say that you have to do this.”
Infantino acknowledged discussing Balogun’s suspension with Trump but said he explained the “ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies” to the U.S. president.
Infantino added that “respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”
UEFA, European football’s governing body, said in a statement Monday that FIFA’s decision was “incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
A high-ranking Dallas police commander met with Egyptian World Cup officials over the weekend to smooth over relations after an altercation between the team’s staff and a city officer.
Deputy Chief Osama Ismail, who speaks Arabic, met and exchanged gifts Saturday with Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan, his brother and team manager Ibrahim Hassan, team captain Mohamed Salah and others, the department said in a statement on social media.
“We understand one conversation can make a difference and respect is demonstrated through actions,” the statement said.
The team — and the Dallas police — made international headlines Thursday night when a Dallas officer was caught on video shouting at and shoving Ibrahim Hassan and other team staffers in the lobby of the team hotel.
Egypt went on to beat Australia in Dallas on Friday. Hossam Hassan said at the postgame press conference that he was satisfied with the police response, adding, “We have nothing to follow up in that regard.”
WASHINGTON — As all eyes are on Seattle, Belgian fans will gather not far from the source of the day’s real intrigue — the White House — for tonight’s match.
Staffers from the Belgian Embassy will be at Wunder Garten, a trendy outdoor beer garden in the city’s NoMa neighborhood, ringing in the game with drink specials and prize giveaways. They’ll take in a game dripping in controversy — after FIFA’s decision Sunday to revoke American striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension from the match.
Critics charge that the decision was steered by the White House. Blue Light News will be on the scene with Belgium’s Beltway fanbase.
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