Balogun red card sparks controversy in USA vs Bosnia match
- USMNT’s star player, Folarin Balogun, received a controversial red card during the World Cup 2026 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after scoring his team’s opening goal.
- The red card was issued midway through the second half following a VAR review of a tangle between Balogun and Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic.
- Brazilian referee Raphael Claus initially did not call a foul but awarded the red card after reviewing the incident in slow motion on a pitchside screen.
- The decision sparked comparisons from fans and pundits to an unpunished challenge by Lionel Messi in a previous match, with ex-England striker Sue Smith calling it “really harsh.”
- The red card left the U.S. playing with 10 men for the final 25 minutes and means Balogun faces a minimum one-match suspension, though the U.S. can appeal the decision.
