The USMNT is heading to the Round of 16 after a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup’s Round of 32. But the celebration has a sour note. Folarin Balogun scored the opener late in the first half, then got sent off in the second half on a red card that has former national team players absolutely furious.
Balogun will miss Monday’s matchup against Belgium. The reason? A tackle in the 61st minute that looked ugly in slow motion but, according to some, didn’t deserve a straight red. The play: a ball played up the sideline, Balogun stretching to get position, and his leg coming down on the back of Tarik Muharemovic’s calf and ankle. VAR reviewed it. Red card. Done deal.
Twellman and Lalas both went after the call
Taylor Twellman was first to sound off. He posted a clip on social media with a direct message to FIFA: “Where was VAR on this?!” The clip wasn’t Balogun’s foul. It was Lionel Messi making a nearly identical tackle earlier in the tournament. Messi got nothing. No foul. No card. No review.
Alexi Lalas went further during the postgame show. He called the red card “crap” and said the officials need to have a feel for the game, not just stare at replays. Then he dropped the line that everyone’s talking about: “If his name was Messi, as we have seen early in the tournament, he would still be on the field and he would still be able to play in Seattle on Monday.”
And honestly, the video backs him up. The two plays are strikingly similar. Both players are trying to reach for a ball, both make contact with the opponent’s lower leg, and both land with their weight on the back of the leg. The difference is the jersey. And the name on the back.
Now, Balogun doesn’t have a history of dirty play. This didn’t look intentional in real time. But after a slow-motion review, it looked worse than it probably was. The referee made the call and VAR didn’t overturn it. So Balogun sits.
What this means for the USMNT against Belgium
The USMNT now has to face Belgium without their starting striker. Balogun has been a key piece up top, and his absence changes how they can attack. Christian Pulisic will have to carry even more of the creative load. Josh Sargent or Ricardo Pepi could step in, but neither has Balogun’s ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play.
Belgium is no joke. They’ve got quality all over the field and a defense that won’t give the US much room. Losing your top scorer for a win-or-go-home game is brutal, especially when the foul in question looks like a carbon copy of something Messi did that drew zero punishment.
The USMNT moves on. But the controversy isn’t going anywhere.
Leave a Comment