Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyle'No doubt we can win' Balogun and Dest confident ahead of round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.USMNT’s star player, Folarin Balogun, received a controversial red card during the World Cup 2026 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after scoring his team's opening goal. The red card was issued midway through the second half following a VAR review of a tangle between Balogun and Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus initially did not call a foul but awarded the red card after reviewing the incident in slow motion on a pitchside screen. The decision sparked comparisons from fans and pundits to an unpunished challenge by Lionel Messi in a previous match, with ex-England striker Sue Smith calling it "really harsh." The red card left the U.S. playing with 10 men for the final 25 minutes and means Balogun faces a minimum one-match suspension, though the U.S. can appeal the decision. In fullOne rule for Messi, another for Balogun? USA striker sees red in World Cup after controversial VAR callThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Balogun red card sparks controversy in USA vs Bosnia match
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyle'No doubt we can win' Balogun and Dest confident ahead of round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.USMNT’s star player, Folarin Balogun, received a controversial red card during the World Cup 2026 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after scoring his team's opening goal. The red card was issued midway through the second half following a VAR review of a tangle between Balogun and Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus initially did not call a foul but awarded the red card after reviewing the incident in slow motion on a pitchside screen. The decision sparked comparisons from fans and pundits to an unpunished challenge by Lionel Messi in a previous match, with ex-England striker Sue Smith calling it "really harsh." The red card left the U.S. playing with 10 men for the final 25 minutes and means Balogun faces a minimum one-match suspension, though the U.S. can appeal the decision. In fullOne rule for Messi, another for Balogun? USA striker sees red in World Cup after controversial VAR callThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
