Folarin Balogun made history Wednesday night. Just not the kind any player wants.
The U.S. men’s national team beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 at Levi’s Stadium to advance in the World Cup knockout stage. But the conversation after the match wasn’t about the win. It was about Balogun’s red card. And the stat that tied him to Zinedine Zidane.
ESPN Insights pointed out something wild: Balogun is the first player to score a goal and pick up a red card in a World Cup knockout game since Zidane did it against Italy in the 2006 final. You know the one. The headbutt heard round the world.
Balogun’s moment was less theatrical but just as costly.
The red card that had everyone talking
The play itself happened in the second half. Balogun went in for a challenge, caught the Bosnia player late, and the referee pulled out the red. VAR reviewed it and upheld the call. Balogun walked off. The stadium went quiet. Then Twitter exploded.
CBS Sports analyst Michael Lahoud didn’t hold back.
“It was a sham. I thought it was an absolute disgrace,” Lahoud said. “I don’t use those words because I have an 11-month daughter and I don’t want her to learn the word ‘disgrace.’”
He argued the call should have been a yellow card. A lot of people agreed.
Everyone from LeBron to the Mariners had his back
The support came from everywhere. The Seattle Mariners’ official account posted a simple message: “free folarin balogun.” Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams chimed in. ESPN personalities, Super Bowl winners Jason Kelce and Pat McAfee, all weighed in. LeBron James reacted after Balogun mimicked one of his trademark celebrations earlier in the match.
But none of that changes FIFA’s rulebook. Balogun can’t appeal the red card. According to reports, if the USMNT advances, he’ll be suspended for the next game against Belgium.
That puts his status for Monday in limbo. He’ll almost certainly miss the trip to Seattle. And the team will have to figure out how to replace a guy who just scored a goal in a knockout game — and then got thrown out of it.
History says Zidane didn’t play another World Cup game after his red card. Balogun won’t either, at least in this tournament. Whether the USMNT can push past Belgium without him is the big question now.
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