Folarin Balogun experienced a night filled with dramatic highs and lows during the World Cup’s round of 32 in Santa Clara, California. The game began on a positive note with Balogun scoring his third goal of the tournament, which gave the United States a lead against Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, his participation ended early as he was given a red card in the second half, which will sideline him from the next match.
Christian Pulisic, Balogun’s teammate, expressed his disappointment over the decision following the 2-0 victory. He stated, “It’s so unfortunate honestly. It just seems so harsh for us to get that. He’s done so much for us, and now we got his back. If he has to miss the next game, it’s just ridiculous for something like that.”
Balogun celebrated his goal by using The Silencer move, popularized by NBA’s LeBron James, but his first attempt was disallowed due to offside. The red card he received was for stepping on opponent Tarik Muharemovic’s right ankle. Initially, referee Raphael Claus did not signal a card but changed his decision following a video review.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino protested the red card, suggesting it wasn’t intentional and stating, “It’s never a red card. Never. If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand. But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you are fighting for the ball and your feet land.”
Balogun joined a small group of players who scored and were sent off in World Cup knockout games, following Ronaldinho in 2002 and Zinedine Zidane in 2006. Teammate Chris Richards remarked, “Pretty cool record, huh.”
Balogun faces an automatic suspension for the upcoming round of 16 match against Belgium. FIFA’s rules prevent any appeal process for a red card suspension unless a penalty of more than one game is given. Teammate Weston McKennie criticized the lack of an appeal process, calling it “bogus.” He noted, “I think there’s been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all. It’s disappointing.”
Despite the setback, Balogun was supported on the field by Pulisic and Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac and joined his teammates in post-match celebrations. With him sidelined, Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright may replace him in the match against Belgium. Wright commented, “It’s a tough decision to make. In the heat of the moment I think the stills look worse than it did live. But I’m always ready and prepared to do my best for the team.”
Balogun initially had a goal disallowed for offside in the 31st minute but successfully scored in the 45th minute. Malik Tillman’s pass was deflected towards Balogun by Bosnia’s Stjepan Radeljic, and despite another deflection off Muharemovic, Balogun seized the opportunity to send the ball past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj for his third tournament goal and twelfth international goal.
These accomplishments place him alongside Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, trailing only Bert Patenaude’s four in 1930. This red card marks the fifth for the U.S. in World Cup history, following similar penalties for Eric Wynalda in 1990, Fernando Clavijo in 1994, and both Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope in 2006.