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Folarin Balogun became only the third player to net at least three goals at a single World Cup for the U.S. men's national team with his opening strike against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Yet, his entry into another exclusive group may ultimately prove far more consequential.
Midway through the second half of Wednesday's thrilling round of 32 clash in Santa Clara, Calif., Balogun received the first red card of his international career, becoming just the fifth American male to be dismissed at a World Cup. An ungainly challenge was interpreted by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus as a "serious foul" which, following a VAR review, resulted in a straight red card.
The USMNT managed to withstand Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts to capitalize on their numerical advantage in the final quarter of the match—with Malik Tillman converting a precise free kick to secure the team's second ever victory in a World Cup knockout fixture.
However, the consequences of Balogun's indiscretion—or rather, the referee's interpretation of his challenge—will extend well beyond the sun-drenched seats of Levi's Stadium.
How Long Is Folarin Balogun's World Cup Suspension?
Red cards, whether direct or the result of two yellow cards, carry the penalty of an automatic one-match ban.
FIFA, however, holds the authority to impose "further sanctions" as the governing body sees fit. This tournament has already seen a five-game suspension handed to Qatar's Assim Madibo following his challenge on Canada midfielder Ismaël Koné, which left the unfortunate 24-year-old with a fractured leg.
As Balogun was judged to have committed "serious foul play" rather than "violent conduct"—a more severe offense—the expectation is that the one-game suspension will not be extended.
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World Cup Games Balogun Will Miss
Balogun will need to count on his teammates to ensure his World Cup journey has not come to an end in Northern California. The U.S. already knows their next knockout opponent will be Belgium, after the veteran European side surprisingly defeated Senegal in a chaotic round of 32 encounter earlier on Wednesday in Seattle.
The prolific striker failed to get on the scoresheet when the USMNT faced Belgium in March, operating on the periphery as the Stars and Stripes suffered a sobering 5–2 loss in Atlanta. Balogun will be unable to settle scores with Belgium—even if his team contests the red card decision.
Can the USMNT Appeal Balogun's Red Card?
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed to Sports Illustrated shortly after the game that Balogun and the USMNT are unable to appeal the red card under the organization's rules.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
The referee had the benefit of a VAR review before reaching his decision, meaning any appeal would likely have been unsuccessful regardless. No governing body is going to undercut its own official by ruling that they made the wrong call even after consulting the screen to review the incident.