FIFA has confirmed that U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) striker Folarin Balogun will serve a one-match ban, forcing him to miss the World Cup last-16 match against Belgium. Balogun received a red card during the team's 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday for stamping on the right ankle of opponent Tarik Muharemovic.
The suspension means Balogun will be unavailable for the showdown with Belgium on Monday night. He will be eligible to return for the quarter-finals should the U.S. advance.
Balogun expressed his view that a yellow card would have been a more appropriate punishment for the incident. "There's nowhere else to put your leg. It's going to be unavoidable," Balogun stated. "But for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. It's something that's happened, so we have to move forward and I have to accept it."
FIFA regulations do not permit an appeal process for red-card suspensions if the penalty is for a single game, as is the case with Balogun.
Balogun has scored three goals in the current tournament, including the opening goal against Bosnia. This tally matches Landon Donovan's 2010 World Cup performance for the second-most goals by an American in a single World Cup, trailing only Bert Patenaude's four goals in 1930. Balogun was also the first U.S. player since 1930 to score two goals in a World Cup match.
Describing his recent emotions as a "roller coaster," Balogun commented, "Been upset, I´ve been happy. It´s been surreal, to be honest." He added, "But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There´s still lots of people who are inspiring little kids, boys and girls who are watching. We have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it´s unjust."
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino has not yet revealed who will replace Balogun in the starting lineup. Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright are considered the most likely candidates. Pepi previously started in Christian Pulisic's place when Pulisic was sidelined with a calf injury during the group stage match against Australia.