USA’s Folarin Balogun has red card ban suspended and he’s available vs. Belgium

Folarin Balogun will be available to play for the United States Men’s Soccer Team in their Round of 16 matchup against Belgium on Monday after his one-game red card ban was suspended, FIFA announced Sunday.

The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon and Adam Crafton first reported the news.

“The implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament in the 45th minute to put the United States ahead against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday. Still, his night ended prematurely when he was given a red card early in the second half.

Balogun celebrated his goal with The Silencer move used by the NBA’s LeBron James — twice — but the first time he put the ball in the net, the goal was disallowed for offside.

He later received a red card from Brazilian referee Raphael Claus in the 64th minute for stepping on Tarik Muharemovic’s right ankle. Claus didn’t initially signal a card but showed Balogun red after a video review.

This play is being reviewed for a potential red card against the US pic.twitter.com/EdyPpgpycA

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 2, 2026

Folarin Balogun is shown a red card and the US is down to 10 players. pic.twitter.com/mLxzhbGD8N

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 2, 2026

“It never was intentional,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “It’s never a red card. Never. … If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand. But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you are fighting for the ball and your feet land.”

Balogun became the third player to score and be sent off in a World Cup knockout game after Brazil’s Ronaldinho in a 2002 quarterfinal against England and France’s Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 final against Italy.

“Pretty cool record, huh,” teammate Chris Richards said.

Teammate Weston McKennie called the lack of an appeal process “bogus” and disagreed with the call made after the video review.

Balogun received the Americans’ fifth World Cup red card after Eric Wynalda against Czechoslovakia in 1990, Fernando Clavijo against Brazil in 1994, and Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope against Italy in 2006

“Obviously the ref made a decision that he made, but I think it’s questionable,” McKennie said. “I think there’s been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all. It’s disappointing.”

Balogun was consoled on the field by Pulisic and Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac following the decision and did come back out to celebrate with his teammates after the game. He even shook hands with the officials despite the call that went against him.

The penalty, called after the referee watched a video replay, ignited debate over whether it was too harsh and whether other players, most notably Argentina’s Lionel Messi, have unfairly avoided similar punishment.

As a Messi fan I must confess he’s really been favoured by referee. That’s a red card offence! Period! pic.twitter.com/y1CnqFIVfG

— RAZOR BLADE (@razorblade300) June 17, 2026

What is a red card and how to earn one?

Red cards are the most serious form of punishment in a referee’s pocket. A red card does more than just send a player out of the game. It also means the team can’t replace them and must play shorthanded. The ejected player is also suspended for the next match — and sometimes longer depending on the offense.

The red and yellow card system of discipline was invented after the 1966 World Cup by former referee Ken Aston, who came up with the color-coded level of discipline while stopped at a traffic light.

“I thought, ‘Yellow, take it easy; red, stop, you’re off’,” said Aston, who died in 2001.

Much is left to the referee’s discretion in the heat of play. A player who receives a second yellow card during a game is automatically ejected with a red card. Direct red cards usually result from more serious offenses, such as dangerous tackles and violent play.

Under FIFA rules, “Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”

The use of video review

The referee has the challenge of watching all the action all the time. In a tangle of bodies, something could be missed. FIFA introduced the use of Video Assisted Review, or VAR, in the World Cup in 2018.

In Balogun’s case, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus didn’t initially signal a card. But an order from the VAR officials to review the replay in slow motion resulted in the red card.

That sparked another debate about whether the play looked worse and more intentional in slow motion.

Former France striker Thierry Henry, now a studio analyst for the World Cup with Fox Sports, criticized the red card.

“You need to have some common sense,” Henry said. “Where is the player supposed to put his foot there in that situation?”

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