Mauricio Pochettino and his players slammed Folarin Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with midfielder Tyler Adams branding it ‘typical FIFA’ that the USA cannot appeal the striker’s suspension.
Balogun, who earlier scored the goal that put the US ahead, was shown a straight red card after a collision with Tarik Muharemovic. As he tussled for the ball, Balogun landed on the back of Muharemovic’s leg, raking down his calf before landing on the defender’s ankle.
Brazilian referee Raphael Claus was instructed by VAR to take another look at the challenge. He decided it was a ‘serious foul’ worthy of a red card. Balogun is now suspended for at least one match.
FIFA rules prevent the US from protesting the decision – unless Balogun’s ban is increased. In any case, he will miss Monday’s last-16 clash against Belgium.
The decision did not prevent the US from beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0. But afterwards, Pochettino, Adams and Christian Pulisic were among those to express their frustration at Balogun’s treatment.
‘For me it’s never a red card. Watching it after on TV, it was never the intention, to step onto the player, it’s a normal action in football that happens by accident,’ the manager said. ‘It’s never intentional. It’s never a red card.’
Mauricio Pochettino slammed Folarin Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina
Balogun was shown a straight red card after his collision with Tarik Muharemovic
Pulisic echoed the thoughts of his manager, insisting it ‘seems ridiculous’ that Balogun will miss the Belgium game for that challenge. ‘It’s just so unfortunate. It’s disappointing,’ he added.
Adams believed the forward deserved a yellow card at most, adding: ‘I think when you slow everything down it always going to look worse.’
Midfielder Weston McKennie, meanwhile, called the decision ‘questionable.’ He said: ‘There have been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players where a card wasn’t given at all. It’s disappointing and I don’t know the protocol of how they come to the conclusion.’
Earlier in this World Cup, Argentina superstar Lionel Messi escaped without a card after his studs-up challenge on the calf and Achilles of Algeria captain Aissa Mandi.
Pochettino and his players were also left frustrated by FIFA regulations, which stipulate that red cards can only be appealed in the case of mistaken identity, or if a player was facing a multi-game suspension.
‘That should be fair, to appeal and demonstrate that it wasn’t a red card,’ said Pochettino, ‘If that is not possible, we will have different options. We will see which decision we will take.’
Adams called it ‘typical FIFA,’ while McKennie added: ‘ I think in this stage of the tournament where every player is important, it’s a bit bogus.’
