Longtime BBC host Kelly Cates took a swipe at Travis Kelce during her World Cup coverage over the weekend.
Cates and the BBC crew, which included English soccer legend Wayne Rooney, discussed FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card. Balogun has controversially been made eligible to play in Monday night's Round of 16 game against Belgium. The U.S. are looking to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002, and they'll have their top goal scorer on the field.
UEFA, Belgium and others are furious with the ruling. FIFA, meanwhile, stands by the ruling.
“USA striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in the co-host’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday at Seattle Stadium. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee issued an update on Sunday on the status of the 25-year-old New York-born attacker, who has three goals for the Stars & Stripes at these global finals,” FIFA announced on Sunday.
© Phil Noble-Reuters via Imagn Images.
Cates, 50, led a discussion about FIFA's ruling ahead of the England vs. Mexico Round of 16 game on Sunday night.
The longtime BBC host trolled Kelce, who got married to Taylor Swift over the weekend, during her conversation.
BBC host taunts Kelce during World Cup coverage
Cates, who is the daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, noted that a ton of American sports figures expressed frustration with the initial red card.
"Listen, there’s a big story today with Folarin Balogun," Cates said on BBC One. "He was sent off against Bosnia but will be available to face Belgium in the round-of-16.
"Look, you can definitely make a case that this is a harsh red card. But he gets an automatic one-game ban and the red card has not been rescinded, it’s just been suspended for a year which is why he’s available to face Belgium.
"The Belgian FA says its astonished and investigating all potential options. There was a big social media campaign among huge American sports stars – including Travis Kelce who should have been concentrating on his wedding.
"Meanwhile US president Donald Trump has thanked FIFA for reversing what he called a great injustice.
"It’s gone all the way to the president and the red card has not been rescinded, it’s been suspended for a year."
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino defends FIFA's decision, making it clear that it was his squad that was punished, for having to play a man down for much of the second half against Bosnia.
“If anyone was harmed in this whole situation, it was the United States. Can anyone justify the idea that we weren’t punished? I mean, playing 30 or 35 minutes a man down in a World Cup knockout match? It’s not as if we’re benefiting. No, no. There’s no extraordinary gain we’re getting out of all this. I mean, ultimately, we aren’t victims, but we aren’t the villains of this story either.”
Kickoff on Monday night is scheduled for 8 p.m. E.T. It figures to be an intense game, live from Seattle and airing on FOX.
