Balogun’s ‘scandalous’ red card has USA fans – Sports News
Lionel Messi’s foul went unpunished (Image: Michael Steele, Getty Images)
Lionel Messi has been drawn into the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun after the USMNT ahead obtained a red card during Wednesday’s match towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Balogun, 24, has been one of America’s standout performers on the World Cup, serving because the workforce’s high scorer and netting the opening purpose in a commanding 2-0 victory.
However, 19 minutes into the second half, the Monaco striker was proven what many are calling a “scandalous” red card, leaving USMNT supporters outraged and soccer icons surprised.
The dismissal got here after Balogun and Tarik Muharemovic challenged for a ball on the sting of the penalty space, with Balogun inadvertently planting his proper foot on Muharemović’s ankle and calf. USMNT gamers instantly rallied round their teammate as their World Cup ambitions hung within the stability.
With no avenue to appeal the choice to FIFA, Balogun will likely be pressured to sit down out the essential Round of 16 showdown towards Belgium – a important blow to American hopes.
Folarin Balogun fouls Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic (Image: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The ruling has intensified frustration amongst USMNT fans over what they understand as inconsistent officiating all through the event. Current joint-top scorer Lionel Messi averted any punishment for a comparable incident during Argentina’s 3-0 demolition of Algeria – a recreation through which he bagged a hat-trick.
“Remember this was NOT a red card for Lionel Messi… Double standard?” one fan posted on X, straight evaluating the 2 incidents.
“Two relatively similar incidents… Flo Balogun: red card. Lionel Messi: unpunished,” one other wrote.
“Friendly reminder that FIFA golden boy Messi received no punishment after this foul earlier in the tournament,” a third fumed.
Soccer legend Thierry Henry additionally questioned the choice, asking, “You need to have some common sense. Where is the player supposed to put his foot there in that situation?”.
Former USMNT star Jermaine Jones echoed comparable sentiments on ESPN. “Yes, if you slow it down, if you go to review, and you look at the pictures, everything looks worse,” Jones mentioned.
“But then, the next point is, if you give a red card here, the consistency, why isn’t that Messi getting the red card?”.
Referee Raphael Claus exhibits Balogun a red card (Image: Charlotte Wilson, Getty Images)
“And that’s just something now, we can look at it and say, he’s missing this game. No, he’s an important player, scored three goals for this country, and he will be missed now for the next game.
“And that is one thing that isn’t good, even on FIFA’s facet, as a result of it’s important to discover the consistency within the calls you do, and never hurting some people, or some groups, and a few groups not.
“So, and if I would be Pochettino, I would go hard on that, and I would be saying something, because you want to go to the next round.”
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