Folarin Balogunâs red card was the only damper on the United Statesâ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night to reach the World Cup last 16.
The decision by referee Raphael Claus to give the US forward a straight red in the 64th minute after a VAR check on a tackle to the ankle of Tarik MuharemoviÄ means that Balogun will not be able to play against Belgium on Monday.
Is there any chance the red card could be struck off, making the USâs leading scorer at this World Cup eligible for their biggest game in modern memory? The answer is no.
The automatic one-game suspension for a straight red card cannot be appealed, a US Soccer spokesperson confirmed to the Guardian. The US can only appeal against Balogunâs red if the Fifa disciplinary committee were to add an additional game to his suspension. Even then, the US would only be able to appeal against that additional suspension â they can ask for a reduction from a two-game ban to one, but not from two games to zero or one game to zero.
Balogun will be able to attend Mondayâs game in Seattle, but will have to watch from the stands instead of the US bench.
The Fifa disciplinary committee chose not to increase the one-game suspension given to Paraguayâs Miguel AlmirĂłn for covering his mouth in a confrontational situation during the group stage. Qatarâs Assim Madibo did receive an increased suspension though. He initially received an automatic one-game ban for his red-card tackle on Canadaâs IsmaĂ«l KonĂ©, who suffered a broken leg on the play, but the Fifa committee increased the punishment to a five-game suspension.
The decision by referee Raphael Claus to give the US forward a straight red in the 64th minute after a VAR check on a tackle to the ankle of Tarik MuharemoviÄ means that Balogun will not be able to play against Belgium on Monday.
Is there any chance the red card could be struck off, making the USâs leading scorer at this World Cup eligible for their biggest game in modern memory? The answer is no.
The automatic one-game suspension for a straight red card cannot be appealed, a US Soccer spokesperson confirmed to the Guardian. The US can only appeal against Balogunâs red if the Fifa disciplinary committee were to add an additional game to his suspension. Even then, the US would only be able to appeal against that additional suspension â they can ask for a reduction from a two-game ban to one, but not from two games to zero or one game to zero.
Balogun will be able to attend Mondayâs game in Seattle, but will have to watch from the stands instead of the US bench.
The Fifa disciplinary committee chose not to increase the one-game suspension given to Paraguayâs Miguel AlmirĂłn for covering his mouth in a confrontational situation during the group stage. Qatarâs Assim Madibo did receive an increased suspension though. He initially received an automatic one-game ban for his red-card tackle on Canadaâs IsmaĂ«l KonĂ©, who suffered a broken leg on the play, but the Fifa committee increased the punishment to a five-game suspension.
