The day after the US supreme court upheld birthright citizenship, Folarin Balogun – a player who wouldn’t have even been on the pitch if not for the longstanding, constitutional law – pushed the United States through to the World Cup last 16. Just two days short of his 25th birthday, Balogun scored the opening goal in the US’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, his third of the tournament.
Then, about 20 minutes later, Balogun was sent off, given a straight red card for what appeared to be inadvertent contact with Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović. It was a shocking turn of events for the Monaco forward, who was among the US’s best performers on Wednesday, as he has been for the entirety of the tournament.
The loss of Balogun put a pall on an otherwise celebratory day, with the US winning their first knockout-stage game in 24 years. They did so against a Bosnia and Herzegovina team who never threatened, even with a man advantage, with midfielder Malik Tillman’s perfectly placed free kick sealing the US victory late in the second half.
The now-suspended Balogun will play no part in the US’s last-16 matchup against Belgium on Monday, leaving head coach Mauricio Pochettino to make perhaps the most consequential lineup decision of his tenure at the US helm: how to replace Balogun against an organized and experienced Belgian side.
Balogun’s red came after he and Muharemović came together, challenging for a ball at the edge of the area. Balogun awkwardly planted his right foot on to Muharemović’s ankle and calf, certainly enough to contact to warrant a red card. What was far less certain was whether there was intent behind Balogun’s actions. Referee Raphael Claus reviewed the challenge via VAR and deemed it violent conduct.
Balogun wandered off the pitch after the offense with his head down, eventually kicking a wall as he headed down the tunnel towards the changing room. A US Soccer spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed that Balogun’s suspension cannot be appealed. Per Fifa policy, Balogun was unavailable to the media following the red card.
In his post-match press conference, Pochettino was at first unaware if the US could appeal against the decision or not, though a reporter soon offered him clarity.
“For me it is never a red card,” Pochettino said. “Watching after on TV, it was never the intention to step on the player. That was a normal action in football that happened by accident and was never intentional. That is why for me it is never a red card. I think today the 50/50 decisions [by the referee] were not good for us.”
Pochettino was also asked how Balogun, who seemed visibly distraught after the challenge, was coping with the decision.
“He is disappointed, very disappointed,” said Pochettino. “Because it wasn’t intentional and he’s said. He is also happy because we qualified – but disappointed and sad because it was not his intention and we [can’t do anything] to change that feeling. But that is soccer, that is football and he needs to understand that these types of situations happen.”
US midfielder Tyler Adams also pushed back against the red card, saying a yellow would’ve been more appropriate.
“You’re asking the wrong person with how I tackle,” Adams said, laughing. “I mean, I think it’s a yellow card. I think when you slow everything down, it is always going to look worse. I don’t want to say too much.”
Pochettino and Adams were mirrored on the Fox broadcast of the match, with Fox analyst and former English Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg offering his own take. Clattenburg suggested the play never should have gone to VAR in the first place.
“When you watch it in real time, you don’t see the ankle twist,” Clattenburg said. “It’s just that accident, as Balogun puts his foot down, he catches underneath his opponent’s foot. This is just an accident. It happens. You can see he’s upset by it. This doesn’t meet, for me, the criteria of a red card, and it certainly is going to change the course of the game.”
Pochettino will almost certainly replace Balogun with either PSV Eindhoven forward Ricardo Pepi or Coventry City’s Haji Wright against Belgium. Pepi was the choice on Wednesday, though his shift was for just two minutes. Unquestionably, Balogun has been among the US’s biggest difference-makers at this tournament, having scored a brace in the opening 4-1 drubbing of Paraguay.
“We will have different options,” Pochettino said. “We’ll have to see which one we take.”
Balogun’s night was celebratory prior to his sending off. He very nearly got the US’s opening goal midway through the first half but was correctly ruled narrowly offside. His second finish was more straightforward – he pounced on a deflected ball at the edge of the area and calmly finished, celebrating in the style of NBA great LeBron James and even eliciting a response from him.
Born in Brooklyn and raised by his Nigerian parents in London, Balogun has spent the vast majority of his life overseas. In 2001, while pregnant, Balogun’s mother was visiting family in New York City. She attempted to return home seven months into her pregnancy but was barred from doing so by her airline, resulting in Folarin’s birth in the US. The two returned to England very soon after, and he was courted by England and Nigeria before choosing to represent the US. More recently, the administration of US president Donald Trump has pushed to dismantle birthright citizenship. On Tuesday, the supreme court upheld the policy that nearly all people born on US soil are American citizens, dealing a major blow to Trump’s efforts.
Balogun becomes the fifth US player to receive a red card in World Cup play. Forward Eric Wynalda earned a red card against Czechoslovakia in 1990, while midfielder Fernando Clavijo was sent off four years later in the last 16 against Brazil. Two US players – defender Eddie Pope and midfielder Pablo Mastroeni – were sent off in 2006 against Italy. Balogun’s sending off was the first in two decades.
