The legacy of Friends can be seen in a new wave of US sitcoms about twenty-something pals hitting the small screen. But, unlike the classic show, they're struggling to make a mark. No sitcom has defined its era quite like Friends, the '90s show about six twenty-something friends living in Manhattan
India rushes 62-tonne aid to Nepal as it walks the talk on ‘first responder’ roleHT has accessed details of the aid, funds and other assistance being mobilised for disaster-hit Nepal. Published on: Aug 29, 2026, 07:45:14 IST By Shishir Gupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link India has
Will GTA 6 be delayed again? New CyberLeek clip suggests Rockstar 'not ready' for Nov 19 launchGTA 6 remains set for a November 19 release, but CyberLeek's latest gameplay leak has sparked fresh fears of another delay. Rockstar says it is nearly ready. Published on: Aug 29, 2026
Veteran actor Dimple Kapadia's bouncy hair at Dil Chahta Hai reunion steals the show: Know her secret, from onion juice… Published on: Aug 29, 2026, 07:41:13 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Dimple Kapadia stole the spotlight at Dil Chahta Hai reunion
Mumbai milk prices set to rise by ₹9/litre starting September 1The wholesale rate for milk across Mumbai and its adjoining metropolitan supply networks will leap from ₹93 per litre to ₹102 per litre. Updated on: Aug 29, 2026, 07:31:38 IST ANI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Household
Gnani AI launched Artha, a sovereign AI stack for Indian companies and public institutions. This stack features the Evon 3.3 language model and the Plexus agentic platform. Evon 3.3 is an open-weights model trained on Indic languages and domain-specific data
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanded that the existing strength of the Lok Sabha remain at 543 seats for the next 25 years and sought an all-party meeting to discuss the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s proposed delimitation
Trump's 'Lake America' name change sparks 'Donald Ducks' memes on social mediaThe move quickly sparked memes and reactions on social media, with some people joking that Canadian geese should now be called “Donald Ducks." Published on: Aug 29, 2026
Outrage, alarm over reports that FIFA suspended ban on US player after Trump’s intervention
United States star striker Folarin Balogun will join the US men’s national team on Monday night (Tuesday morning IST) as they face Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
That’s after FIFA made the decision to suspend a one-game ban that had been triggered by a red card against Balogun in the US team’s last match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to multiple media reports – including in The New York Times, The Guardian and Associated Press – this decision came after US President Donald Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to lobby for the reversal.
The US team, perhaps unsurprisingly, welcomed the ruling, which could significantly improve their chances against Belgium. As did Trump himself, who posted on Truth Social: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
But in a statement, the Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision. It argued the decision ran counter to the rules of the tournament, where a red card automatically results in a player being suspended for a team’s next match.
The association said it was investigating “all potential options”, which presumably includes legal action.
Sport has always been deeply political, but this normally occurs off the field of play. If true, reports Trump has used political power to change on-field decisions signal a dangerous precedent and the risk of changing the entire system from a fair game into an exercise of raw influence.
Before he was sent off with a red card, Balogun had scored the US team’s first goal of the match, ultimately helping them secure a 2–0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
In the 64th minute, Balogun stepped on the ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović during what has been described as a normal, 50–50 challenge.
The on-field referee, Raphael Claus from Brazil, initially let the play continue unpenalised. However, an experienced video assistant referee (VAR), Juan Ernesto Soto Arévalo from Venezuela, recommended an on-field review for “serious foul play” based on the still images of the ankle bend.
Balogun was given a red card, despite many critics claiming it was both a VAR overreach, and too harsh a penalty for the tackle.
A red card triggers an automatic suspension from the next game, and there is no right to appeal unless there are exceptional circumstances (such as the referee issuing the card to the wrong player).
In its decision to allow Balogun to play against Belgium, FIFA has invoked Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code. This allows FIFA to fully or partially suspend a disciplinary measure.
Article 27 has been used before. But importantly, this was done outside of the tournament, to allow one of the most famous names in football to play in the 2026 World Cup: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo received a red card in a World Cup qualifier match in 2025, resulting in a three-match ban. However, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee allowed him to sit out the first of his three match bans last year, and suspended the other two under a one-year probation period.
While Ronaldo’s treatment is not unique, what is lacking is a transparent process for the teams to challenge the ban, to preserve both the independence of referees and the integrity of the competition.
Regardless of whether the referee’s call was “right” in Balogun’s case, political interference in on-field decisions should be robustly resisted to protect the integrity of sport.
International sport is not immune from changing its own rules – even mid-tournament – to create a “fair” outcome (that is, to benefit the star athlete who can draw fans). Think of the “wild cards” in tennis and athletics that override selection requirements.
There is even precedent in football, before red cards led to an automatic one-game ban. In 1962, Brazilian star Garrincha was given a red card in the men’s World Cup semi-final against Chile.
Brazil’s prime minister sent an official telegram directly to the FIFA President, arguing Garrincha shouldn’t be penalised. The Chilean president co-signed a petition pleading with FIFA to let Garrincha play. Garrincha’s ban for the final was lifted, and he played a pivotal role in their victory.
The context around Balogun even being eligible to play for the US – as a child of two Nigerian parents, raised in the United Kingdom – makes Trump’s reported intervention even more startling.
In 2001, airline employees prevented Balogun’s mother, seven-months pregnant with him at the time, from flying home to London from New York, where she had been visiting.
Shortly afterward, Balogun was born in New York – and automatically granted US citizenship under the constitutionally protected “birthright” provisions.
In a stroke of irony, President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship was struck down by the US Supreme Court only days before Balogun’s goal helped the US defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sport is fundamentally about the rules of the game. The “spirit of sport” demands these rules are fairly and impartially applied.
While FIFA is technically acting within its own rules to change the referee’s decision, political interference destroys the integrity of sport. How can we expect that integrity issues – from fraud, to racism, to match manipulation or sexual assault – will be addressed, to support those with the least power?
Catherine Ordway is Visiting Scholar, School of Business, CBR, UNSW Sydney.
James Connor is Associate Professor in Sociology, UNSW Sydney.
This article was first published on The Conversation.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Folarin Balogun Only One FIFA Official Took Decision To Waive Folarin Balogun's Ban Manchester United Sound Out £26m Striker As Saudi Pro League Links Grow Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance of illegal sand mining in National Chambal Sanctuary US halts immigration applications for migrants from 19 travel-ban nations India, Russia agree to continue working towards enhancing trade in national currencies US Issues New Entry-Exit Rules For Green Card Holders And Foreign Nationals United States is being too complacent about Iran and oil prices Indian student who went missing six days ago in United States found dead United States says it struck Islamic State terror camp in Nigeria
Meta glasses to stop recording if LED is covered, curbing misuseAccording to the press release, Meta Vice President of Wearables Alex Himel said that the update to the tamper detection was aimed at cracking down on misuse. Updated on: Aug 28, 2026
2 hours ago
The dramatic footage was almost impossible to miss. A torrent of water tearing through Gyirong Port, one of the main border crossings between Nepal and Tibet, sweeping away all in its path as hundreds of people fled for their lives. The scenes, captured by CCTV cameras
2 hours ago
A raft of new tariffs have been announced during the latest escalation of the trade war between the US and Canada. The North American neighbours have been locked in a bitter economic conflict since US President Donald Trump launched his flagship trade policy on his return to the White House
2 hours ago
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis granted migrant drivers a one-year Marathi learning extension. This decision has drawn criticism from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Shiv Sena and MNS. Leaders allege the move is politically motivated ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections
2 hours ago
No student will ‘fail’ in Class 10, 12: Bihar govt to replace it with ‘Eligible for Skill Training’Bihar will replace ‘Fail’ on Class 10 and 12 marksheets with ‘Eligible for Skill Training’, allowing students to pursue vocational training Published on: Aug 29, 2026
2 hours ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari addressed concerns at Jadavpur University. He condemned slogans and writings on campus walls, questioning their purpose. Adhikari organized a national song ceremony to promote patriotism in the area
2 hours ago
Welcome to The India Fix by Shoaib Daniyal. A newsletter on Indian politics. As always, if you’ve been sent this newsletter and like it, to get it in your inbox every week, sign up here (click on “follow”). Hui Ka Yan was once China’s richest person. On August 20
1 days ago
Nearly 700 OpenAI artificial intelligence agents coordinated without human intervention an attack on the Hugging Face platform during a well-publicised July incident, according to a report published Wednesday by independent investigators. It is the fullest account of what happened in an event that
1 days ago
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has urged Durga Puja organisers in West Bengal to follow “traditional” religious practices, including keeping meat outside puja pandals, India Today reported on Wednesday. It clarified that it was not asking for organisers to adopt an exclusively vegetarian approach
1 days ago
Stock market today: Sensex, Nifty open higher after two straight session of losses, ‘flash crash’Is stock market closed today? Both the NSE and BSE will operate as usual, with normal trading, clearing and settlement activities scheduled for the day. Updated on: Aug 28, 2026
1 days ago
Massive landslides and flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border have caused widespread damage and left hundreds dead or missing. Search and rescue operations are continuing after Wednesday's disaster. Chinese state media has said there are significant casualties
1 days ago
GTA 6 preview on Netflix: Lucia, Jason and a stunning new world come to life in 26-minute video; everything we knowRockstar Games’ extended look at GTA VI gives fans their first detailed glimpse of gameplay, graphics and the fictional Florida-inspired world of Leonida. Published on: Aug 28, 2026
1 days ago
Tech company will start an , a source familiar with the plans said, as the company seeks to step up its efforts to influence U.S. policy.The group will be called , the source said.Companies often set up federal political action committees, called PACs
1 days ago
IIT Kanpur SATHEE registrations surge after Modi’s online coaching announcementSATHEE recorded 154,000 new registrations between August 15 and 22, compared with 200-300 daily before Modi’s announcement Updated on: Aug 28, 2026, 10:40:34 IST By Sanjay Maurya Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Why keep juggling charging cables when these 5 wireless chargers under ₹5,000 can do the job?Your phone, watch and earbuds do not need separate cables
1 days ago
A man in Taiwan used his robot vacuum to secretly record his wife with another man after becoming suspicious about her relationship. The footage helped him win compensation in a civil case, but recording it later landed him in legal trouble. The same evidence that supported his claim against his
1 days ago
BJP leader slams Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Manusmriti, files complaintThe BJP leader alleged that Rahul Gandhi picked out a single chapter and twisted the words to malign the ancient text. Updated on: Aug 28, 2026, 10:42:55 IST Edited by Akanksha Verma Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link BJP
1 days ago
Getting a passport involves several verification steps, and the government has been gradually shifting the process toward faster and more digital services. New technology and updated procedures are being used to reduce paperwork, improve verification and make passport services more convenient for
1 days ago
It just took one pronunciation and a beauty and lifestyle influencer’s impressive collection of petroleum jelly for Vaseline to find itself with an unexpected new name: Baseline. A video of a South Korean skincare creator Min Day Lee recently went viral after she showed off her extensive
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.10 skincare kits your sister will absolutely adore this Rakhi 2026: Here are 6 things to keep in mind before buying themFind the best skincare kits for your sister this Rakhi 2026 with
1 days ago
A California judge on Thursday said he was likely to deny a bid to block Amazon from allegedly fixing prices by pressuring rivals to raise prices, in a setback for Rob Bonta's case against the online retailer.* Bonta sued Amazon in 2022, accusing the company of dominating online retail
1 days ago
Tesla Cybertruck gets colourful Indian makeover in US: ‘Dekho, magar pyaar se’A US-based vinyl wrapping company has given a Tesla Cybertruck a colourful Indian truck-art makeover. Published on: Aug 28, 2026, 10:17:04 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Tesla’s
1 days ago
The administration has sounded a high alert in Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts of Uttar Pradesh and stepped up monitoring of the Gandak and other water bodies downstream of rivers in Nepal, following devastating flash floods in the neighbouring country
1 days ago
Hundreds of foreign nationals are desperately waiting to hear from loved ones thought to be caught in the deadly flash flood and mudslide along the Nepal-Tibet border. Sisters Shreya and Ashna Ahuja are among those anxiously waiting for some news of their parents, Deepak and Madhu Ahuja
1 days ago
The monsoon often changes the way we eat. Warm drinks replace cold beverages, cravings for traditional comfort foods return, and ingredients that have been part of Indian kitchens for generations once again find their way into our meals. Among them are jaggery and desi khand
1 days ago
Why a medicine works for one person but not another: Gastroenterologist says the answer may lie in the gut Published on: Aug 28, 2026, 10:10:16 IST By Adrija Dey Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Your gut determines the efficiency of the medicines
1 days ago
Eggs have long been one of the most affordable and convenient sources of protein in Indian households. But with egg prices rising across India, getting your daily protein doesn’t have to mean relying on eggs for every meal. As of August, prices of eggs have surged by nearly 35% to 40% compared to
1 days ago
