Folarin Balogun and the United States men’s national team (USMNT) cannot appeal Brazilian referee Raphael Claus’ decision to show him a red card, and the subsequent one-game suspension that comes with it, for his infraction during Wednesday night’s Round of 32 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina.
With it, the star American striker will be forced to miss his side’s Round of 16 clash against Belgium on July 6 in Seattle — a significant absence considering he leads the team with three goals in this tournament.
Balogun was shown a straight red card following a VAR check in the 64th minute after a challenge on Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic in which, while the two jockeyed for possession, the US forward’s lunging right foot came down the back of the defender’s right leg and onto the ankle.
“I feel like, obviously, the ref made the decision that he made, but I think it’s questionable,” US midfielder Weston McKennie said. “I think there’s been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all, so it’s disappointing… If anything, maybe a yellow but unintentional.”
It was clearly not an intentional challenge by Balogun, whose focus was on the ball and not the man, but in this case, intent does not matter. But manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his frustration with the decision after Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi put in a similar challenge earlier in the tournament against Algeria. Trailing his man, Messi sent the studs of his boot down the leg of the player in what appeared to carry far more intention.
A foul was called on Messi, but no cards were shown, nor did VAR step in for further review.
“For me, both weren’t red cards,” Pochettino said. “It’s not intentional. I can talk only for Balo, but for me, it’s never a red card. For me, it’s about intention, and the intention wasn’t to damage the opponent. Your feet land, and the intention was never to damage the opponent… It’s never a red card.”
Balogun had scored the Americans’ opener on Wednesday night in Santa Clara in the 45th minute, and that lead was extended even after his sending off, thanks to a brilliant Malik Tillman free kick in the 82nd minute. Balogun’s third goal of the tournament tied him with Landon Donovan for the most goals scored by a US player at a single World Cup.
His presence has been a game-changer for the Americans. Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents before moving to England, the 24-year-old, who plays his club soccer for Monaco of Ligue 1, could have represented any of those three nations, but chose to represent the Stars & Stripes and provide the program with the true goal-scoring forward it had lacked for years.
Without his services in the Round of 16, Pochettino will likely turn to Ricardo Pepi to start up front alongside Christian Pulisic.
For more on Folarin Balogun and Team USA at the World Cup, visit AMNY.com
