Folarin Balogun had the kind of World Cup night that belongs in a Greek tragedy. He scored the opening goal for the United States against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, then found himself walking off the pitch with a straight red card 64 minutes in, punished for what looked like an accidental step on a defender’s ankle.

The 24-year-old forward became one of the rare players in World Cup history to both score and get ejected in a knockout-stage match.

What actually happened

The incident occurred during a contested ball in the 64th minute. Balogun, competing for possession, inadvertently stepped on the ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic. The initial call on the pitch didn’t produce a red card. Then VAR got involved.

After a review, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus upgraded the foul to a straight red, deeming it a “serious foul.” Balogun was sent off, and the US was forced to play the remaining stretch of the match with ten men.

The US still managed to hold on and win 2-0, advancing to the Round of 16. But the victory came at a steep cost. Balogun will be suspended for the next match against Belgium, removing one of the team’s most dangerous attacking weapons at the worst possible time.

Pochettino’s reaction and the VAR debate

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino did not mince words. He labeled the red card “bogus” and expressed sadness over the decision, making clear he believed the punishment far exceeded the crime.

VAR was introduced to correct clear and obvious errors, not to manufacture new controversies by frame-by-frame dissection of incidental contact. The slow-motion replays used during reviews have the potential to distort the perceived severity of challenges, as seen in Balogun’s case where intent was deemed missing.

What this means for the USMNT going forward

The US now faces Belgium in the Round of 16 without Balogun, who had been one of their most impactful attacking players in the tournament.

For Balogun personally, this is a brutal chapter. The 24-year-old had put together exactly the kind of performance that defines a player’s international career. Scoring in a World Cup knockout match on home soil is the stuff of legend. Getting ejected for an accidental step on someone’s ankle in the same match is the stuff of nightmares.