FIFA World Cup Rainbow Rules (3) – THIS UPDATE

By Ori Martins

The global scene is absolutely imperfect. It is grossly full of irritating imperfections. And the FIFA World Cup is no exception.

It has been established that whenever the World Cup is played in the year with the number six, the biggest football event in the world usually ends up in troubled waters.

Perhaps it was in 1966 that the first scandalous sign of World Cup instability appeared. Two strange incidents occurred during the 1966 World Cup final in England.

The World Cup would have disappeared, many analysts say it was stolen. He was recovered thanks to the use of a police dog. And, in 1966, England controversially lifted the World Cup for the first and only time in very questionable circumstances: the Three Lions’ third goal that gave England victory (4-2) in the final never got over the goal line!!!

Four years earlier, FIFA had canceled Garrincha’s red card to allow him to play his final match as Pele’s injury had never healed. Of course, this is what happened again in the case of Folarin Balogun when his suspension ahead of the match against Belgium was overturned. FIFA explained its decision on the basis of Article 27 of its statutes.

In 1986, the second greatest World Cup player after Pele, as declared by FIFA in 1999, Maradona, scored his controversial and famous Hand of God goal in the quarter-final against England. After 40 years, England and Argentina are ready to meet again in the decisive phase of the World Cup semi-finals. When both teams clashed in France ’98, Argentina had an England defeat after Beckham was sent off for a retaliatory offence.

In 2006, in Germany, world football fans were treated to an ignoble spectacle on the final day, when the sensational Zidane headbutted an Italian. That minute of distraction changed the course of that decisive moment: the French captain was sent off and Italy recovered and lifted the World Cup for the fourth time.

It’s 2026 and the whole world is awash with the story of Messi and Argentina receiving “undeserved favors” from referees, namely: Messi’s harsh tackle on an Algerian player that was ignored by both the referee and VAR; Cape Verde denied the requested penalty and Argentina the third goal clearly offside; the battle of Egypt which has actually captured the attention of followers and observers of world football.

Yet, the World Cup is attractive and exciting despite its perennial flaws.

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