Referee Raphael Claus explained on the field that U.S. striker Folarin Balogun received a straight red card for committing a “serious foul” against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Wednesday’s World Cup round of 32 match.
Balogun had been coasting towards another tidal wave of praise after breaking the deadlock at the end of a difficult first half for the host. After a pair of fortuitous deflections, the U.S. top scorer contorted his body to slot his third goal of the summer underneath Nikola Vasilj.
The U.S. looked most likely to double its lead until Balogun found himself challenging for a ball with Tarik Muharemović. The 24-year-old was jostling with the center back, and in the act of attempting to plant his right boot, sunk his studs into the defender’s Achilles rather than the turf.
The Brazilian official Claus was ushered across to the pitchside monitor, and after a swift review of the footage, announced to the 68,827 in attendance at Levi’s Stadium that Balogun was deemed to be guilty of a “serious foul.”
Law 12 in the official rules of the game defines “serious foul play” as “a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality.”
It could be argued that Balogun wasn’t making a tackle or a challenge but just simply trying to regain his footing. However, the fact that Muharemović required medical treatment after the collision does suggest that it endangered his safety to some extent.
Reaction to Balogun’s Straight Red Card for the USMNT vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mauricio Pochettino was pretty clear with his thoughts on the topic, bluntly stating that it was “never” a red card. The overwhelming online reaction supported the U.S. boss.
Balogun deserved better at most he should’ve gotten a yellow card not red that was clearly an accident🥀 pic.twitter.com/HKzUteCTtd
— DB (@DoomBlazer_) July 2, 2026
Remember, Balogun has to sit out the next round too. Hard to overstate how much the ridiculous decision of one man, referee Raphael Claus, completely changes the course of United States soccer.
— Jared Koller (@JaredKollerKC) July 2, 2026
Some pointed out how the slow motion replay the referee was shown made his decision for him. IFAB’s laws of the game do state: “The VAR can ‘check’ the footage in normal speed and/or in slow motion but, in general, slow motion replays should only be used for facts, e.g. position of offense/player, point of contact for physical offenses and handball, ball out of play (including goal/no goal); normal speed should be used for the ‘intensity’ of an offense or to decide if it was a handball offense.”
Balogun the latest victim of this nonsense https://t.co/ARa6k0lhK4
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) July 2, 2026
That is a brutal red card for Balogun. Sure, it looks bad on the freeze frame. But bodies are engaged and there is zero intent there. Punishment of 10 men for the rest of this match and he’s gone for a potential Round of 16 tie with Belgium does not come close to fitting the…
— Zach Joachim (@ZachJoachim) July 2, 2026
Others were quick to highlight how some other players have managed to get away with similar offenses.
Balogun just committed the same foul as Messi vs Algeria and the media all told me it’s an accident so it’s fine. NOW THEY GIVE US A RED FOR THAT LMFAOOOOO SUCH BULLSHIT
— Alex Coleman (@DarkOfTheMovie) July 2, 2026
