Folarin Balogun faced reporters on the morning of his 25th birthday, although the discussions were not about gifts or celebrations.
According to FIFA regulations, the forward was prohibited from speaking to the media after the United States’ World Cup last-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he scored the opening goal in a decisive 2-0 win but received a red card in the second half.
As the sun broke through the clouds in Seattle on Friday, marking the start of the team’s second training session in the Pacific Northwest, Balogun appeared to be coming to terms with his suspension for the upcoming round of 16 match against Belgium, even as he refrained from endorsing the red card. A spokesperson from US Soccer confirmed that Balogun’s suspension is limited to just one match, with no further games to be served.
“I’ve been upset. I’ve been happy,” Balogun revealed about his emotions over the last day and a half. “It’s been surreal, to be honest. But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it’s unjust.”
Despite feeling that the decision was incorrect, Balogun emphasized the importance of sportsmanship by shaking hands with referee Raphael Claus after the match. He believes it sets a positive example for the fans, many of whom might be experiencing the World Cup for the first time.
“Even though you can feel like something unjust has happened to you, it’s not an excuse to be disrespectful,” Balogun stated. “After every game, I try to shake the referee’s hand, and this game was no different.”
The incident surrounding Balogun’s red card has gained significant attention in American sports. While certain elements like VAR and pressing tactics may still be unfamiliar to casual fans, a perceived unfair ejection can spark widespread discussion and concern.
In the comments section of Balogun’s post-match Instagram update, several brands attempted to engage with the situation, including the Merriam-Webster dictionary. ESPN host Pat McAfee even chimed in with a “I love seeing how engaged the country is in our journey and in what we’re doing,” hashtag, and NFL quarterbacks Mac Jones and Lamar Jackson expressed their support. This unexpected twist has energized both dedicated USMNT fans and more casual observers as they prepare for Monday’s clash against Belgium.
“I think for me it’s important to be fair even when I’m giving my opinion on things,” Balogun affirmed.
When asked to describe the incident that led to his red card—an apparently innocuous collision with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic, where his foot landed on his opponent’s ankle—Balogun found it challenging to justify the harshness of the punishment.
“If you’ve played the game, you would understand there’s scenarios that you simply can’t avoid and it has to be taken into context when it’s being reviewed. I felt [that context] wasn’t [considered] on this occasion. “I think as you all saw, there’s nowhere else to put your leg. It’s going to be unavoidable. I’ve seen many different opinions and takes, but for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward and have to accept it. But the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.” he commented. “Obviously, things change a little bit, but we’ve been flexible,”
“Guys have shown that they’re ready to play. If it’s [Ricardo] Pepi, if it’s Haji [Wright], if they go a different direction, who knows? I’m not the coach. But yeah, it should be an exciting opportunity for whoever has to step up.”
Belgium will undoubtedly breathe a sigh of relief at the prospect of not facing the US’s most effective attacker. They struggled to manage Senegal for significant stretches of their last-32 match on Wednesday, and they have faced challenges against proficient target strikers earlier in the tournament.
In the days ahead, Mauricio Pochettino will strategize on how to keep Belgium under pressure as much as possible. Given the nature of Garcia’s system, Belgium will aim to maintain more possession than at least three of the US’s initial four opponents in this World Cup, making transition plays even more critical. Without their usual leading scorer, the US must determine how to effectively conclude those plays.
“Obviously, things change a little bit, but we’ve been flexible,” said midfielder Tyler Adams, whose role will remain far from central forward positions. “Players have shown they are ready to contribute. Whether it’s [Ricardo] Pepi, if it’s Haji [Wright], or someone else, who knows? I’m not the coach. But it should be an exciting opportunity for whoever steps up.”
