Former U.S. Men's National Team midfielder and current broadcaster Alexi Lalas strongly criticized the refereeing during a recent Team USA match, calling the performance "an absolute joke" after a red card was issued to player Folarin Balogun.
Lalas drew a parallel between Balogun's ejection and an incident involving Lionel Messi during the World Cup, where Messi was shown a yellow card for a foul against Algeria. The former player expressed his dismay on social media, questioning the consistency and quality of officiating.
Balogun's red card occurred during a crucial moment in the match, drawing significant attention and debate among fans and analysts regarding the referee's decision-making.