"WHAT THE HELL ARE FIFA DOING?!" Simon Jordan's SCATHING RANT on Donald Trump's REVEALING INTERVIEW!

Back in the US, Simon, we discussed how the American Federation couldn't afford to bankroll Mauricio Pochettino's contract, so enlisted the help of private investors.In fact, you probably recall in the World Trade Center that morning, we were joined by former US international and entrepreneur Kyle Martino, who explained exactly how that happened when he joined us.

I played a seemingly big part.I was on a text chain with a few buddies of mine.Scott Goodwin, Aleko Eskandarian, Sean Feeney, some UVA boys, played soccer together.And the typical talk in a little bit of trash and being upset and frustrated with how things were going with the US, I stayed mainly in the background watching and throwing an argument out every now and then.And Scott said, We need a world -class coach.And Aleko said, well, I'll introduce you to soccer if you're going to pay for it.

And he said, well, yeah, introduce me.And of course, I'm like, this is a joke.There's no way this is actually going to happen.Scott got a meeting with US Soccer, said, if you can get one of the top handful of managers in the world, tell us how much that is.And a buddy of mine, Ken Griffin, will come in.And I don't know how much, but we'll help pay for it.

And this joke of a text exchange three, four months later, was breaking news that they went and got Pochettino.

So they got Pochettino, and that's how they did it, Simon, I remember.Speaking further to Kyle, Kyle Martino, when we went off air the other day in New York, Martin Samuel Simon in the Times, referring to that very deal, Scott Goodwin and Ken Griffin's wealth secured Pochettino, just as Kyle explained.Welcome to the clubification of international football.It's no longer where you're from, or even where you're at.It's who's got the most money.It's club football with the delusions of nobility.

And he said, where's the delusion of nobility in this?When you've got a nation...Well in the next sentence Martin says what made the international game different is that a federation couldn't buy its way out of trouble, couldn't match the skill level of Spain or France.Okay tough, do better, build a program, develop your own L 'Institution Clairefontaine or your own La Messiah Academy.He's saying it's on you, the International Federation.

In its purest format, he's right.But we've got nations that are well -seeded in football, that have massively, they've got massive domestic leagues that have their massive talent pools that are funded by money.You have subsequently then coaches that are developed that are funded by money.You've got a nation like America that's coming into it now, trying, so it's trying to fast track it.So from a totally purest, Slightly pious view.Of course, he's right.

The clubification of international football.Well, you know, we see FIFA getting involved in club football by doing the FIFA World Cup championships.There was already an investment and involvement into that.But I don't know why there's a surprise about this, because the whole thing is about money.The whole sport is about money.The World Cup...

International level as well.Well, that's why the tournament is in America.That's why the prices are what they are.So is it wrong to frame international football as a more pure version yeah probably of football today it's idealistic and it's not necessarily wrong but it's slightly idealistic and people will say I want to cling on to my ideals because I think they're valuable to have but if they were unrealistic and they're not reflective of the times and if you've got other countries that are so far ahead of you Because they have had the sport and I understand his point of view which is develop your own system develop your own coaching framework invest in it But you haven't got a sport in America that's playing the football We want it to be the global sport of the world, but it's competing in its own country against NBA and NFL and seeded narratives Yeah, it might not get that opportunity to be so prevalent as it is in other countries.So what does it do?It recruits its best talent from elsewhere

And to some extent, why is the Premier League so fantastic from a club?I know this goes into Martin's argument.The reason why is because it's taken players and coaches and owners from all around the world.So what we're asking for is a football tournament that's been hijacked by FIFA, because it wasn't the FIFA World Cup.It was the Jules Rimet Trophy.And FIFA have overtaken it, turned it into the FIFA World Cup, and turned it into a money -making machine.

So is there any surprise that the nations are within the confines of it?So what's the argument for Lancelotti then being recruited, despite the fact that the Brazilians are well -heeled financially, they can afford to pay him because they've got 100 years of Brazilian football being the elite end of the game.The Americans have no years of that.That's why I would put a counter -argument to Martin's point of view.

You and I were speaking about FIFA.How could we not at this particular time?We were speaking about them earlier.The USA.going against Belgium in the early hours of tomorrow morning.And the USA striker, Balogun, has had his one -match suspension overturned, thanks in part to the intervention to FIFA by the US government.

We heard that a US government official had confirmed that President Trump placed a call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino before the governing body decided to suspend the striker's ban for one year.And quite rightly, Simon, you questioned, well, that US government official You know, how much can we take that on the level that he did confirm Trump placed a call to Infantino?A short time ago, Trump himself spoke about Balligan.

You know, it's one thing to penalize somebody for the game, but how do you penalize them for a game that hasn't been played yet?It's very unfair.You can't do that.So, Yes, I asked for a review by FIFA.I spoke to a man who is highly respected, and by the way, whose level of respect has gone up tenfold.All I did was ask for a review.

I didn't say you have to do this.This man is a smart, tough man.Johnny Infantino.He's a smart, tough man.And his stock has gone through the roof because what the job he's done has been great.And I feel we have to have all the best players in the field.

You can't take the best players.

So now that's in a situation where it's absolutely unequivocally non -debatable.So now you move into the situation of what are FIFA doing?It's been clarified that Trump did make the phone call and there are no ulterior motives behind someone within the confines of a spokesman advancing an opinion.Great, fantastic, we're now on a solid footing.So now we move to the real issue which is what the hell are FIFA doing?How have we got to a position where Trump can make a phone call, Infantino can then convene a committee when there's no process for it, and allow this to go on and create legislation on the fly?

So we get to the final part of the conversation, which is the part I always want to get to, is why did something happen?Then we can work out how it happened and where it's going to take us.And if now we know that Trump did make this phone call and it's categoric, then ultimately the question goes not about Trump making the phone call, because we all know that Trump will push the envelope.Why have FIFA acquiesced?Why aren't FIFA accounting for this process and saying to us, well we did this because if Trump's to be believed, because we know and I know and I accept the point that when Trump phones you up it's not because he wants you to consider something, it's because he wants you to do something.Typical deal negotiator.

So I didn't ask him to do something, I just probably gave him about 17 reasons, one of my pauses in the conversation I had with him, that he had to do it.But why does Infantino think he has to do it?And why is he prepared to put the integrity of the game in jeopardy or in danger?

by doing it.

That's the bigger question.

and there's Trump himself saying, you better did.