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Folarin Balogun’s teammates came to his defense after the United States World Cup star received a red card during the team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night.
Balogun received the red card after stepping on the right ankle of defender Tarik Muharemovic. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus only gave Balogun the card after the VAR review. The red card meant that Balogun will not be able to play in the team’s round of 16 match against Belgium.
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Folarin Balogun of the United States, right, waits after being given a red card by referee Raphael Claus of Brazil, as Weston McKennie (8) of the United States looks on during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A FIFA official told The Athletic that a team cannot appeal against a red card or suspension. The official pointed out to the media a part of the organization’s rules and regulations, which state: “An expulsion automatically entails suspension from the following match. FIFA’s judicial bodies may impose additional match suspensions and other disciplinary measures.”
Balogun’s teammate Weston McKennie called the lack of an appeal process “disingenuous” and disagreed with the referee’s decision to issue the red card.
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Sead Kolasinac (5) of Bosnia talks to Folarin Balogun of the United States after Balogun was sent off, while Christian Pulisic (10) watches during the World Cup round of 16 match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, California, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Julio Cortés/AP)
“Obviously the referee made a decision that he made, but I think it’s questionable,” McKennie said. “I think there have been a lot of other plays like that throughout the tournament against other players that weren’t given any cards. It’s disappointing.”
American coach Mauricio Pochettino said Balogun’s act “was never intentional.”
“It’s never a red card. It’s never… If the intention is to harm the opponent, that’s fine, I understand that. But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you’re fighting for the ball and your feet land,” he said.
Balogun is the third player to score a goal in a World Cup qualifying match and be sent off. It follows Brazil’s Ronaldinho in the 2002 quarter-final match against England and France’s Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy.
Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to American Folarin Balogun, right, during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
It is the fifth red card an American has received in the team’s history at the World Cup.
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Eric Wynalda received one against Czechoslovakia in 1990, Fernando Clavijo got one against Brazil in 1994 and Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope each received one against Italy in 2006.
