Re “Folarin Balogun’s red card may be unfair, but FIFA’s decision to lift his suspension might be worse” (July 5): Trump’s recent meddling with FIFA leadership is particularly bittersweet vis-a-vis his executive order to abolish birthright citizenship shortly after he was sworn into office for a second term.
It’s sweet because Folarin Balogun was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Yoruba Nigerian parents, who moved to London just two months later. But it’s bitter because Balogun is a U.S. citizen solely because of his birthright citizenship — which President Trump deplores. Without such citizenship Balogun would be playing either for Nigeria or England.
While discussing the incident, Trump asserted his own athletic bona fides, stating, “I’m a person that loves sports and was a good athlete, and I understand sports really well.” Funny, but what does that have to do with anything, except Trump’s ego?
Go figure!
— Emery J. Cummins, San Diego