Folarin Balogun addressed the media on the morning of his 25th birthday, but the conversation was far from celebratory. Instead of receiving birthday wishes, the striker found himself discussing the red card he received during the United States’ World Cup victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he scored the opening goal in a 2-0 win but was sent off in the second half.
Due to FIFA regulations, Balogun was unable to speak to reporters immediately after the match. However, as the team resumed training in Seattle, he appeared to be reconciling with his upcoming suspension for the last-16 match against Belgium, despite not fully agreeing with the referee’s decision. A representative from US Soccer confirmed that Balogun’s suspension is limited to one match.
Balogun shared his emotional journey over the past day and a half, stating, “I’ve been upset. I’ve been happy,”
Despite his disappointment with the red card, Balogun made it a point to shake hands with referee Raphael Claus after the game. He emphasized the importance of setting a positive example for younger fans experiencing the World Cup for the first time. “It’s been surreal, to be honest. But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it’s unjust.” he remarked. “Even though you can feel like something unjust has happened to you, it’s not an excuse to be disrespectful,”
The incident has resonated beyond the pitch, capturing attention in the wider American sports landscape. While many casual fans may still be unfamiliar with nuances like VAR and pressing triggers, a perceived unfair ejection has become a rallying point for many. On Balogun’s Instagram post following the match, prominent figures, including brands and sports personalities, rallied behind him. NFL quarterbacks Mac Jones and Lamar Jackson were among those who expressed their support, contributing to the “After every game, I try to shake the referee’s hand, and this game was no different.” movement.
“I love seeing how engaged the country is in our journey and in what we’re doing,” Balogun said, reflecting on the support from fans.
When asked to recount the incident that led to his ejection—an unintentional collision with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic—Balogun found it challenging to rationalize the harsh punishment he received. “I think for me it’s important to be fair even when I’m giving my opinion on things,” he stated. “If you’ve played the game, you would understand there’s scenarios that you simply can’t avoid and it has to be taken into context when it’s being reviewed. I felt [that context] wasn’t [considered] on this occasion. “I think as you all saw, there’s nowhere else to put your leg. It’s going to be unavoidable. I’ve seen many different opinions and takes, but for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward and have to accept it. But the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.”
He further elaborated, “Obviously, things change a little bit, but we’ve been flexible,”
Belgium will likely breathe a sigh of relief at the news of Balogun’s absence, given his status as the US’s most effective scorer. The Belgian team struggled against Senegal in their last-32 match, facing difficulty against strong target strikers earlier in the tournament.
In the days leading up to the match, coach Mauricio Pochettino will be strategizing on how to keep Belgium on their toes. The nature of his tactical approach suggests that Belgium will aim to maintain more possession than the US’s recent opponents, making transitional plays crucial for the American side. Without their key striker, the team will need to adapt their finishing strategies.
“Guys have shown that they’re ready to play. If it’s [Ricardo] Pepi, if it’s Haji [Wright], if they go a different direction, who knows? I’m not the coach. But yeah, it should be an exciting opportunity for whoever has to step up.” said midfielder Tyler Adams, whose role will be far removed from that of a center-forward. “Guys have shown that they’re ready to play. If it’s [Ricardo] Pepi, if it’s Haji [Wright], if they go a different direction, who knows? I’m not the coach. But yeah, it should be an exciting opportunity for whoever has to step up.”
