376. The Card

Fox News broadcast the United States versus Mexico World Cup match this week. During the broadcast, commentator Jessica Tarlov observed that the United States is the most powerful country in the world, and wondered why that power could not be used to fix the most egregious wrongs in the sport. The egregious wrong she had in mind was whatever a red card is.

The red card is, in association football, a formal sanction issued by a referee to a player who has committed a serious or repeated foul. The player is required to leave the field and cannot be replaced. The team must continue with fewer players. The red card is one of the most significant events that can occur in a match. It is a standard feature of the sport. FIFA, the governing body of the sport, was founded in 1904. The red card was introduced in 1970. It has been in use for fifty-six years.

Tarlov clarified that she did not know what a red card was. This clarification appeared on Fox News during the United States' World Cup campaign. The broadcast is reaching people who, like Tarlov, may be uncertain about what a red card is. The commentary is not explaining what a red card is. The commentary is suggesting that American diplomatic power might be deployed to address the red card situation. This is a foreign policy position.

FIFA has reportedly received no formal request from the United States government to eliminate the red card. The red card remains in the sport. The United States is still in the tournament. The commentary is continuing.

The United States won the match. The red card was issued to a player. The player left the field. The United States scored. The commentators continued explaining the sport. The broadcast reached millions of viewers. Some of them learned what a red card was during this time. Others remain uncertain. The tournament continues regardless.