U.S. men's national team star striker Folarin Balogun has dodged a potentially lengthy suspension for his red card in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, he will have to sit out the upcoming World Cup round of 16 game against Belgium, according to a U.S. Soccer spokesperson.
The incident that led to Balogun's dismissal occurred in the 64th minute of the second half when he stepped on Bosnia and Herzegovina player Tarik Muharemović's ankle, prompting referee Rafael Claus to show him a red card. Balogun had earlier scored in the 2-0 win.
As per the rules, a player who receives a red card is automatically ejected from the match and must serve a one-game suspension. This means the U.S. will be without their top scorer at the tournament, who has netted three goals in four games, for a pivotal match against Belgium on Monday in Seattle.
Notably, Balogun is the first player to achieve the feat of scoring a goal and receiving a red card in a World Cup knockout match since France legend Zinedine Zidane against Italy in the 2006 final.
Balogun's Potential Return
If the U.S. manages to defeat Belgium and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002, Balogun will be eligible to rejoin the squad. His presence will be crucial at this stage, as the USMNT would then face the winner of the round of 16 game between Spain and Portugal, two of the tournament favorites.
This potential quarterfinal matchup is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 11 in Los Angeles.
Appeal Process for Balogun's Red Card
According to FOX Sports rules analyst Mark Clattenburg, the U.S. had no avenue to appeal the standard one-match suspension handed to Balogun. An appeal would have been possible only if FIFA had decided to impose a suspension exceeding one game.
Replacement Options for Balogun
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino has alternative striker options in Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright. Either player is likely to start in place of the suspended Balogun.
Pepi, who is part of his first World Cup squad, boasts six goals for the U.S. in 17 career games. He had a successful season with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, scoring 19 goals and helping the team secure a league title.
Wright, a member of the 2022 World Cup squad under former U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, scored one goal in the tournament. He has been a prolific scorer for English club Coventry City, with 49 goals across all competitions in three seasons, and contributed to the team's promotion to the Premier League.
Pochettino could also opt for a dual striker setup, featuring both Pepi and Wright. Another possibility is a formation change, where star forward Christian Pulisic plays in a ‘false No. 9’ position, increasing his involvement in the attack.
