Folarin Balogun comments on red card ruling ahead of USA's match against Belgium

Folarin Balogun will miss the United States men's national team's Round of 16 match against Belgium due to a red card received in a previous game. The incident occurred when Balogun unintentionally stepped on an opponent's ankle while going for a loose ball, leading to a review by the video assistant referee (VAR), who deemed the action serious enough for a red card. In his first comments since the ruling, Balogun expressed disagreement with the referee's decision, stating that it was unintentional and suggesting a yellow card would have been more appropriate. He emphasized the importance of remaining calm and setting a positive example for young fans. According to FIFA regulations, the decision is final and cannot be appealed. Balogun is eligible to return if the USA advances to the quarterfinals.