Folarin Balogun, the star striker for the U.S. national team, has acknowledged that his choice to defy a red card suspension stirred controversy. He openly admits that he and his teammates failed to deliver for their fans during the significant loss to Belgium.
Balogun spoke about the backlash surrounding FIFA’s decision to allow him to play, which didn’t prevent the U.S. from suffering a 4-1 defeat against Belgium, ultimately leading to their elimination from the World Cup.
“Typically, when you receive a red card, you don’t participate in the following match,” the Seattle-born player remarked to reporters on Monday regarding his expulsion in the previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He added, “If that ruling were to be reversed, it would definitely be seen as controversial.”
The 25-year-old expressed that the uproar about overturning a red card suspension for the first time since 1962 was somewhat expected. “But as a player, my focus is on the game, and it’s disappointing that we didn’t secure a win today,” he noted.
Balogun concluded, “There’s not much more to say on this. Belgium played superior football today. They were the better team.”
As a former Arsenal talent now playing for Monaco, he couldn’t add to his World Cup scoring tally. “I wasn’t able to give the fans much support today,” he reflected on his underwhelming performance.
“That’s what hurts the most for me, honestly. It’s challenging to articulate the absence of energy in a Round of 16 match during the World Cup. I can only convey my feelings: disappointment and deep sadness.”
The U.S. men’s national team hasn’t advanced past the Round of 16 since 2002 when they made it to the quarterfinals.
Yet, the controversy surrounding Balogun has overshadowed the match itself. President Trump claimed he had reached out to FIFA president Gianni Infantino for a review of the red card.
UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, criticized FIFA’s decision to annul Balogun’s red card, stating it “crossed a line that shouldn’t be crossed.”
They remarked, “When the certainty of rules is not guaranteed by leadership, it risks the integrity of the match and undermines the credibility of the competition.”
