Ex-USA star advocates for changes to red card rules following Folarin Balogun incident

U.S. Soccer Reaction to Balogun’s Red Card

John Harkes, a member of the 1994 U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) World Cup squad, attended a recent match at Levi’s Stadium and shared a reaction that many echoed when Folarin Balogun was sent off.

“We kept saying, ‘Wait a minute, that’s not a red card,'” Harkes noted in an interview.

He recalled being with family at the game. “I was next to my daughter-in-law, grandson, and my son and his wife, and both Cindy and Ian turned around and said, ‘That’s not a red card.’ I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God.’ Honestly, I don’t think it was a red card.”

Balogun’s ejection forced the USMNT to finish the match with only ten players. A red card triggers an automatic suspension for the next game, meaning a single referee’s decision can significantly influence the tournament’s outcome, even if the situation is, as Harkes said, “50-50.”

Interestingly, Harkes experienced a similar situation in 1994 when he received yellow cards in the first and third matches, leading to his suspension for a crucial game against Brazil. “It devastated me. I thought, are we really going to bench this player just because of a few yellow cards?” he reflected.

There’s a stark difference between soccer and sports like baseball, where rules can change frequently. Harkes expressed hope that a red card in one game would not have ripple effects on others. “This is beyond my expertise, but it seems like something people often argue about. So, let’s think this through. Does it make sense?” he asked, adding that it feels unfair in a tournament format.

Regrettably for the U.S., there seems to be no recourse. FIFA regulations state that appeals cannot be made against referees’ decisions regarding the game itself. Furthermore, any player sent off receives an automatic suspension for subsequent matches.

Despite the circumstances, Balogun, who played remarkably well, did not appear to harbor ill feelings. Now, the U.S. will have to find a replacement for arguably their standout player as they prepare for what may be the most important match in U.S. soccer history.