Imagine the shock when FIFA pulls Cristiano Ronaldo off the sidelines just in time—talk about a plot twist in the world of football!
Hang onto your seats, because this is the kind of favoritism that makes fans question everything about fair play in the game.
Picture this: Under Gianni Infantino's leadership, FIFA has reached new heights of shameless behavior by lifting Cristiano Ronaldo's suspension for Portugal's first two group matches at the upcoming Geopolitics World Cup (you can find the details here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/25/cristiano-ronaldo-clear-world-cup-fifa-suspends-two-games-portugal). It all started with a straight red card for violent conduct during a loss against the Republic of Ireland, leading to a standard three-match ban. Ronaldo served the first one while his team thrashed Armenia 9-1, and oddly enough, that game seemed to boost Portugal's confidence without him on the pitch.
But here's where it gets controversial... Just two days later, Ronaldo was spotted at a fancy White House dinner (check it out: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/22/cristianoronaldo-dines-with-donald-trump-grotesque-saudi-funded-spectacle-world-cup) alongside Donald Trump—who's got his own Club World Cup medal—and attended by Infantino and Mohammed bin Salman, plus a roster of other questionable guests. Coincidence or not? Shortly after, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee decided to put the remaining two matches of his ban on hold for a year-long probation, citing his past good behavior as the reason. For beginners, a red card like this usually means missing games to discourage bad conduct on the field—think of it as a timeout for grown-ups in sports.
Portugal's chances at the World Cup could hinge on this; without Ronaldo, they might have a solid shot at glory. Yet, the Portuguese FA hasn't said if they'll challenge the decision. To put this in perspective, imagine if a star player in your favorite team got a break like this—would it feel fair, or would it spark debates about influence and connections?
Now, contrast that with Tigran Barseghyan from Armenia. He got his first red card for similar violent conduct against an Irish player in Dublin and faced the same three-match ban. Unlike Ronaldo, Barseghyan has already missed two internationals and is set to skip the next one. We don't know his thoughts on Ronaldo's pardon, but it's hard not to wonder about the double standards. For example, Argentina's Nicolás Otamendi and Ecuador's Moisés Caicedo were also sidelined for their opening World Cup group games after red cards in qualifying (though not for violence—Football Daily Editor's note). If we'd reached out for their opinions, they might have plenty to say about consistency in punishments.
And this is the part most people miss, especially when it comes to broader FIFA moves that seem rigged. FIFA announced that the upcoming Geopolitics World Cup draw will keep Spain and Argentina— the top seeds—apart until the final, provided they top their groups (more on that: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/25/world-cup-2026-draw-tennis-seed-system-spain-argentina-france-england). This tennis-inspired system is a first for World Cups and could help England by forcing them to go far in the tournament to face the big guns. But the downside? It might just make England's early exit against underdogs like Scotland, Haiti, or Curaçao even more embarrassing. For those new to this, seeding means stronger teams are protected from playing each other too soon, like in a knockout tournament where favorites get a gentler path.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I sometimes get a bit delusional about things. I get the way it looks... Logically, I knew returning at 35 was more about taking on this supporting role. But I have no regrets. I've absolutely loved it” – Tom Heaton opens up after 1,029 days on the bench (read the full chat: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/26/tom-heaton-manchester-united-goalkeeper-interview) to Sam Dalling about why he's still passionate about life on the Manchester United sidelines.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
When it comes to teammates clashing—referring to yesterday's Football Daily piece (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/25/football-daily-email-idrissa-gueye-michael-keane-everton)—the gold standard might be set by ‘Killer Hales’ and ‘Flash’ Flanagan back in January 1979 at the Valley. Without all the modern cameras and experts dissecting it, it was tough to tell who threw the first punch, but the story goes Killer thought Flash held up a pass and cost a goal. Rumors of off-field beef led them to go separate ways, yet five years on, they reunited in the Addicks' lineup. – Geoff Williams.
It struck me that Michael Keane didn't collapse and writhe in pain after that head slap. Shouldn't he have been cautioned for such an obvious act of fake bravery? – Ian Potter.
Idrissa Gueye's red card could be the least of his concerns. Word is, his prize for winning that eliminator is a bout with local hero Duncan Ferguson. – Allastair McGillivray.
Drop us a line at the.boss@theguardian.com. Today's letter of the day goes to... Allastair McGillivray. For our competition rules, check here when they're active: https://ablink.editorial.theguardian.com/ss/c/u001.HesXJ57d0x1owJZ-aZPL3dMFWr92HeUFQk2vwBSJUtgE-pwHb4UgXNOWZZo0YVxxwURJTh4pagIEz-e5iiLLvWgGrJSjzS9eI4znaXqZIXBgACYC9P6aENz7Gtjz6FYNtrghwgnYkWqJGN-Jm5sP8i8yF7iwpzsqdIU0e9k0kfjkc0qQHLeGPPmoi3zmaxQsG1OomvAYsIFwUxXj2IF7RDLIAQIrhvhdtz591XoZCtT9P8EnEvpuchUGj49icG38aS7Jm1PRdywk0F8-e3EpGOkHRZo9lEVFATp03mgctQMDfL3x0rwDnY5GVzfw977jEbw9Rc6pbf2nRaJPXVCqGLmAUl4EMuumZEqwgJDBVwgHpjonD4aMJiPh8Se8Qwulm13pcplgBgY0End1tYkoKSFhxTV8bXVEIdGzYbcE-SSII3LgkOoV8eZV37bN1a3DqIGVLAHBVzjYK1t9m6UXo3OiyPKBvbB34Zt8FAWBcRDitLDB0XKFGTnZ6AVP3HC9mgrVwXWHUHOYSqeKtyn5-LgmsdElqgC21Fge0AoAgKCsvug92pFy42wfqeOMJoFDnuF4qUr2XKUfKhu0yUwQfgrOIvEBpfy0UCdz4-5GlH1jBfHzZugRIky4N-mzdoLXH4-tTLXYWsTgKMf8mgS0yCdjUDfhvbxfAt7FCyMxD6kWifZ-CknBZcV7Ua29LxGzYXPZEgzudI3xK9ndytgzmXKJertnCDVTDNwfFEvuaN5c-vT3gUa2etkfM0nLYwcbBcZx43LghcVoB--OcxNtdpY37nsUD2eZFLPj2ug0SJR1gt2a3TTuR-cNwKwyqAoL8kVdPCM6zFleCOJNKvhjFC7sRLrDbclsddq2zahoaDNKZORanxWJ62nLGaCZu8jy6mDcsv6SG43BM9tp6WdJxhuOVEAJ9fcLeZr-zWzydqY27QDpCGJbigSQPp46hM3wW8yPp-hedFSgaUjMhiwtGcqpQJpAVCcUeRNy62G3BV7MJzywyaijwxSwP9TTJNzyacQQLCr6jnBBHWFrOHMSHmRGq5DDEV1ADST686SHnvIiX9VoCO-M6L53v1gfMpslC8WQCL2dGzos5IKi-iidOHb2Ry9c5xi1v1tdZWdCYD749xTiKh30P8iN8viszDmPTouMu8wWNO3wr9cBfCtHtaL3fNPlUZ7reoPqm2ZfwI6nEV178okJdijoIHtMW4r-EEFLjHDWQXg8oc7IGRfDSXL8B9-yzrcWLPP3lhI7XvmJbxPiszutjPYSA1s5IywOcFrWQEyzDLxu3AImvJMupThuPpeu1UA8ibFAhQ0k3D0hqyPoVitSdxYj9Ndi02BI2O8Vvlg1ZXg9U3sIrL2NWBvnfZpRL10diKIm11aWwAfLI8al5ffs96OhTxEr5ZuURlnuqujqG8G6bapO5kMVP2anS6Hl1Huo7lBfp9fa2wauBeOjSyw9s2Scs2U0PtjcByk5jZGTYJUHllEIZvlG76uvcZgxund11uHb1aZdr1Yti4jcxm8hdXG6rFShPVfhoctvKg0zAEXD04hDMW2Rnjckp9fQShunUw2aKqNkZSAnjl-pWoyiTIqcR6UsrCkSuotfz4qzHRaEzyG6fiGEg8pVdqac4cGmR131tfE0c8UpRI5Je-jxyCb84yamhz8CUOlBMAT1rFSJKBvR58R5go5nyqqSL9a8Yyoi6ANZEZMbc6TZ-6oZp5fo5Xs0eLG7J0T9eiXSUfibnJNOeBZZbt3-qLQABylQnjQU4RKCURiADnlY9s6zZQBOAztaAvNDoEh5haxDHXZdpTOa9wRkDB01iMdF9Y5tUyjgiORaKFr7KDTGMBsDpX0iWCG5b0cxjfNtQT9mTcweaGq6Z6BdRMkSjzIhVmkSOPxlNB8WwB1jWWxhEU6S-JRp3u1jHG1fxQKUd6ZR9bp4g6w0itxoEKXqICwv-LbCQrSRBejhQ53t-bLsLlbL6k4JBbKsIJ1ZRI3SBKGPpw8h4EmvT5MEKhx5uohBu8ldFcxhgLoMTwWKoFQbti6MD0jbewqN7nto1ayznp1p47ELxWBnTgAAbZQUfln3ftdtdh4fQRP4tt-lB4rZsa4nuwzgkjoqvgZBEnSzEyL7lcVh9ySUbMm7Zip9Vcm6-8CgV8TXcxZeBj6UmoQCJMXT5soUFn26aDzqfWiOjRXSX9RKlklC3rStGG-SiVz1IHwD0cHAr1OBvtvLJohqPnf5ekXWyW5fdSsskFbDA-3N92dQRa6xvGdDiuP0YaWHDznVyztutLkukBN7hx4Sz8Ko4RpgUOid0lCsB86DInbrvDuk7my0gfCZUo0YH3sC1YNdayPCf5y9wgxrUo7-9BBXBWBOIMLsDJ2lWWYiu8kZj-D1E15bP3IXmPNokCPdO3swks3B7-CNOrpitRuqCepNrZeTxZcvc9D7Teb8CHHnGI9kQ9XQPU-Fse1KJ8I3Qo5mlL3Nma3TmLahQomF1GW7wF6fF6mQV4Afq1-80mbUuOKYihtQTjrH60ttNmXOgWMyX5HuxIBc4xXhTiYCikQJRCz2QfQtG2ozILlGvDExRsMzvujZqxZs5jll1N8zbloUtaAft1pa6lWotaMrPTwQxxPmGp5xVyvYpPU95vwJrsNvuyXlyBPlJXEK7mQubptYgWYtvVwrJK5f091fYLOR4Kn6ndoAl5hS0dg9Q-i8Zj4RvZ1tifCHOXoSGhVIoysD4nHLf5-CHHNLfI5vI3Z94UMi92n04jObz0fCeEBupJ2mNVpW45eosIspnzGVNljzn5sGZcw07p53Rrzwg-QTRSPpmwyEmZsGiq7kDt7QdlTayROt5x8hCqc-yuOMGVJEP8AWo3ckey9FIE-gVckMKLuP6Bd6K9IiqbDgrugU5tnnJ65I2ZuUab8MdONLVlK-md43sFqGNgniFZ26XN-Rv30N-o9jbkIh7EZKL2PvgR2mBRf0zx6vaQ-kwFew06f5s9DmKcDAow1ayiHw7A2r3Lumg4jc1037wQ-M1S8bnKYgutpLKjg7GT24dMDeTpMtPjwJv3a-i2n5mp0cnR1ct86NGQf0k6tKNiWLRs3BIHoASGT5IwNf9auJ5-2dfnXuvlLS7bLxfceqR9nUQqpq75QgozzSYWqmHKnLqscxwnghamyzBpHzr0xfZrJJK1hYNGfiPjTJhg3x9S3D0/4la/XRPdVyS6Re-jkhfX1a9wBg/h33/h001.657Bhl1wklEvSb_AmGoY7NXLdyvxnDtNTDzDg-vsLDk).
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What are your thoughts on FIFA's decisions here? Do you think Ronaldo's connections played a role, or is this just smart leniency? And how fair is the new World Cup draw system—could it make the tournament more exciting or just prolong the agony for underdogs? Share your opinions in the comments; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have a whole different take!
