USMNT coach defends Folarin Balogun after controversial red card

Wajih AlBaroudi, For The WinThu, July 2, 2026 at 11:59 AM UTC

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Mauricio Pochettino is taking Folarin Balogun's side after his controversial red flag during the USMNT's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun will be unavailable for the Round of 16 match against Belgium because of the referee's decision.

In the 64th minute, Balogun seemed to inadvertently step on Tarik Muharemovic's foot before they both fell to the pitch. The contact was enough for Raphael Claus to give a red card after video review, however.

Pochettino, whose squad went on to win 2-0, says it was an ordinary play that should not have resulted in such dire consequences.

“For me? Never a red card,” Pochettino said, per The Athletic. “Never an intention to step on the player. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident.”

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Balogun is the Americans' leading scorer in the World Cup, so his absence will loom large against a talented Belgium squad on Monday. Having to watch from the sidelines will be especially painful.

“He’s very disappointed,” Pochettino said of Balogun. “It was an action that wasn’t intention, he’s sad. … We cannot do anything to change this feeling. This is soccer, this is football. For sure he’s going to help us to perform and hopefully we can go to the next round so he can be available again.”

Can Folarin Balogun appeal his suspension?

Per FIFA rules, the red card cannot be appealed, so Balogun has no hope of playing Monday.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino defends Folarin Balogun after red card

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Source: “AOL Sports”