USA's Folarin Balogun criticizes referee's red card in first comments since controversial ruling

1994 USA World Cup player John Harkes, who was suspended himself for yellow card violations, wants to see FIFA change its red card rules after Folarin Balogun's suspension.

The United States is currently gearing up to play its biggest game in program history without arguably its top performer of this World Cup.

Folarin Balogun will have to sit out Monday's Round of 16 matchup against Belgium after receiving a red card on an incidental, yet ugly-looking, play.

In going for a loose ball, Balogun and an opponent got incidentally tangled up to the point where Balogun stepped on the opponent's ankle, causing it to roll awkwardly. The video assistant referee (VAR) ordered the play to be looked at, and Balogun's transgressions were deemed "serious" enough for the red card.

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Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to United States' Folarin Balogun, right, during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

The red card not only ejected Balogun from the game and forced the USA to play the rest of the match with 10 men, but it also meant he would miss the team's Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.

In his first public comments since the ejection (and suspension), Balogun said he disagreed with the ruling.

"First and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I'm sure a lot of people know. But, you know, I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don't think it was the correct call," he told reporters on Friday. "I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional.