Folarin Balogun was shown a stunning red card in the 64th minute Wednesday night during the United States’ round-of-32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The incident came as Balogun challenged center back Tarik Muharemovic for possession, with the U.S. forward stepping onto the Bosnian defender’s ankle while tumbling toward the turf.
After a VAR check, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus was called over to review the play on the pitchside monitor and ultimately ruled that Balogun’s challenge warranted a sending-off.
The dismissal means Balogun would be suspended for the United States’ next match if the team protects its lead and advances past Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I don’t believe it’s a good use of VAR,” FOX referee analyst Mark Clattenburg said during the broadcast. “When you see it at full speed, the ankle twist is not obvious — it looks like an accident, with Balogun putting his foot down and catching the underside of his opponent’s foot.
“This is just an accident. It happens. You can see he’s upset by it. For me, it does not meet the standard for a red card, and it is certainly going to have a major impact on the game.”
United States’ Folarin Balogun sent off after VAR review for foul against Bosnia and Herzegovina
Balogun’s ejection marked the 12th red card of this year’s World Cup, with every one of those dismissals coming as a straight red.
“This is not consistent with what I’ve seen across the rest of the tournament,” Clattenburg added. “With this kind of challenge, it is more of a stepping motion. And when it is step and action, it lacks the force and intensity normally required.”
“But the problem you’ve then got as Balogun puts his foot down, he catches the foot of the Bosnia and Herzegovina player, and that’s what creates that movement down.
“That means his ankle twists, and therefore, does he endanger the safety of his opponent? You could argue it does, but I think it’s slightly unfair because it’s more of a step and action, and it lacks force and intensity to create that red card.”
FOX’s Jenny Taft noted on the broadcast that she was near Balogun’s family close to the field. She said, “They were shocked and disappointed. His players were consoling him. He wasn’t showing a lot of emotion.”
The USA responded very well after the red card, defending very well before midfielder Malik Tillman stepped up and buried a free kick from just outside the Bosnian 18-yard box to make it a 2-0 game.
Balogun has been a breakout player at this World Cup for the United States, and he scored his third goal of the tournament in the first half. He also had one ruled out in the first half because he was offside.
Balogun was born in New York but raised in London. He has scored 12 goals in 30 international appearances for the USA since making his debut in 2023. He plays his club soccer for AS Monaco in France’s Ligue 1.
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