Balogun’s Eventful Night in World Cup Round of 32

In a match packed with drama, Folarin Balogun’s performance in the World Cup’s round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina was memorable. Although he gave the United States an early lead with his third goal of the tournament, his night ended unexpectedly with a red card.

Teammate Christian Pulisic expressed frustration over the decision after the team’s 2-0 win. He described the situation as ‘harsh,’ emphasizing Balogun’s contributions and support from the team.

Balogun celebrated his goal with ‘The Silencer’ move, popularized by NBA star LeBron James. However, his celebration was cut short when his first goal was disallowed for offside. The red card came after Brazilian referee Raphael Claus reviewed footage and saw Balogun stepping on Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle.

It never was intentional, said U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino. It’s never a red card. Never.

Balogun’s incident echoed famous red card send-offs in World Cup history, following Brazil’s Ronaldinho in 2002 and France’s Zinedine Zidane in 2006. Balogun now faces a one-game suspension with no appeal process. This impacts his availability for the round of 16 game against Belgium.

Teammate Weston McKennie criticized the lack of appeal options, labeling the decision ‘bogus.’ He noted inconsistencies in similar calls throughout the tournament.

After the game, Balogun was comforted by Pulisic and Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac. Despite the decision, Balogun returned to celebrate with his team and even shook hands with the officials.

In Balogun’s absence, the U.S. might rely on Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright against Belgium. Wright acknowledged the challenging decision, referencing how live moments can appear worse in photos.

Balogun’s disallowed goal came in the 31st minute, but he scored just before halftime with a pass deflected into his path. It became his 12th international goal, matching Landon Donovan’s 2010 record for U.S. goals in a World Cup.

Balogun became the fifth American to receive a red card in World Cup history, joining a list that includes Eric Wynalda, Fernando Clavijo, Pablo Mastroeni, and Eddie Pope.