The Cure’s Robert Smith Blasts FIFA Over Trump Presenting World Cup Trophy

This year's FIFA Men's World Cup took place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and it's been Americanized to an unprecedented extent. No, I'm not talking about Donald Trump's meddling with Folarin Balogun's red card suspension; FIFA was already quite corrupt before our corrupt president got involved. But I am referring to the hydration breaks during each half that somehow became ad breaks. And then there's the halftime show.

Sunday, Spain and defending champs Argentina will square off in the World Cup Final at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. For the first time, the Final will feature an all-star halftime show a la the Super Bowl. Coldplay's Chris Martin curated the show, which features Justin Bieber and Burna Boy in addition to the originally announced Madonna, Shakira, and BTS. If you're upset and/or annoyed by this pageantry, you're not alone.

The Cure's official Instagram account shared the following description of the halftime show today:

The half-time show, which has been curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will feature Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and the K‑pop boyband BTS. Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantosser, has described the half-time show as “groundbreaking spectacle” that will “celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle.

Along with those words, Cure frontman Robert Smith has offered some concise commentary: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH… #Breadandcircuses #MUGWANK #pleasejustfuckoff." Smith, a lifelong supporter of the English club Queens Park Rangers, is maybe feeling sour after his home nation's collapse in Wednesday's semifinal against Lionel Messi's Argentina, which left his countryman and collaborator Mick Jagger looking dejected.

The World Cup Final is set to kick off Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Presumably the halftime show will start a little after 4.

UPDATE: In a followup post, Robert Smith clarified his disdain was directed at the idea of World Cup halftime show, and Trump’s involvement in the ceremony. Today FIFA boss Gianni Infantino (who Smith calls “infantosser”) confirmed Trump (“Trumpton”) will present the trophy to the winning team. Here’s what Smith wrote:

sigh… FOR THOSE OF US NOT QUITE GETTING IT: THE POINT IS NOT REALLY ABOUT WHO IS CURATING OR PERFORMING, IT IS ABOUT THE #MUGWANK IDEA OF A FOOTBALL WORLD CUP FINAL HALF TIME SHOW… IF YOU NOW UNDERSTAND MY 'AAAAAAAGH!' A BIT BETTER, BUT STILL DON'T AGREE, PLEASE ADJUST YOUR RED CAP, YOUR 'I
JANNY+ DONNY+ $$$' TSHIRT AND… KNOCK YOURSELF OUT? ONWARDS… RSX PS. ‘Infantosser has said he and US president Trumpton will small hand over trophy on Sunday’. SADLY, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH A'S LEFT FOR THE 'ARGH' THAT SHOULD FOLLOW… #breadandcircuses #pleasejustfuckoff #fuckfifa #justlookup lostworld