📂 Categoría: Football,World Cup | 📅 Fecha: 1783171027
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Folarin Balogun has turned heads with a classy gesture after USMNT advanced to the World Cup Round of 16.
Bosnia and Herzegovina offered a tricky test in the Round of 32, but in the end, the USA secured a resounding 2-0 victory for head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Striker Balogun, who has been one of the stars of the tournament thus far, capitalized on a defensive error to score on the stroke of halftime.
However, 64 minutes into the game, Balogun caught defender Tarik Muharemovic on the back of the ankle, which referee Raphael Claus didn’t initially penalize.
However, the official was sent to the pitchside monitor in Dallas by VAR, shown the incident in slow-motion, and a red card was awarded, which was followed with furious claims that FIFA got it wrong again.
Balogun appeared stunned by the decision, and was visibly upset as he made his way off the field.
After the whistle blew, Balogun returned to the field and shook hands with referee Claus, and his explanation as to why is commendable to say the least.
“You can feel like something unjust has happened to you, but it’s not an excuse to be disrespectful or not do the right thing,” Balogun said.
“After every game, I try to shake everyone’s hands. This game was no different. The most important thing for me is also to give the correct example to people watching.
“This is something I’m aware of: that the World Cup might be the first time a lot of American viewers are tuning in.
“It’s important just to show people that whatever things happen to you, good or bad, just to continue to be yourself.”
Fans absolutely adored this gesture from their striker, and took to praise him.
“That’s absolutely class from a class player. We can all learn something from that,” one commented.
“THIS! This right here! Shout it from the mountaintop. Mindset and actions of a truly special player and human,” a second added.
“Wonderful young man and a great role model. Well done,” a third said.
“Such as classy guy. A great role model for the adults, and the kids,” a fourth concluded.
Balogun said red card was ‘not the right call’
Due to FIFA’s regulations, Balogun was not allowed to speak to members of the media following his red card.
Before training on Friday, he addressed members of the media and said a yellow card would have been the fairer result.
“There’s nowhere else to put your leg. It’s going to be unavoidable,” Balogun said.
“So, I’ve seen many different opinions and takes. 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.
“It’s difficult to see red in any game, but in such a high pressured tournament – high pressured situation there were many emotions but for me, the most important thing was trying to stay calm.
The victory over Bosnia was USMNT’s first World Cup knockout win since 2022, and Mauricio Pochettino became the winningest manager in World Cup history.
Pochettino hoped he would be able to appeal the red card, but it is not permitted, meaning Balogun will miss the Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.
Pochettino may now have take a leaf out of Ted Lasso’s book and get creative without his star man on the field.
Thankfully, for Poch and the USA, Balogun will be available for selection once against should they reach the quarterfinal.
Stay up to date with USMNT across all our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET
Folarin Balogun has turned heads with a classy gesture after USMNT advanced to the World Cup Round of 16.
Bosnia and Herzegovina offered a tricky test in the Round of 32, but in the end, the USA secured a resounding 2-0 victory for head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Striker Balogun, who has been one of the stars of the tournament thus far, capitalized on a defensive error to score on the stroke of halftime.
However, 64 minutes into the game, Balogun caught defender Tarik Muharemovic on the back of the ankle, which referee Raphael Claus didn’t initially penalize.
However, the official was sent to the pitchside monitor in Dallas by VAR, shown the incident in slow-motion, and a red card was awarded, which was followed with furious claims that FIFA got it wrong again.
Balogun appeared stunned by the decision, and was visibly upset as he made his way off the field.
After the whistle blew, Balogun returned to the field and shook hands with referee Claus, and his explanation as to why is commendable to say the least.
“You can feel like something unjust has happened to you, but it’s not an excuse to be disrespectful or not do the right thing,” Balogun said.
“After every game, I try to shake everyone’s hands. This game was no different. The most important thing for me is also to give the correct example to people watching.
“This is something I’m aware of: that the World Cup might be the first time a lot of American viewers are tuning in.
“It’s important just to show people that whatever things happen to you, good or bad, just to continue to be yourself.”
Fans absolutely adored this gesture from their striker, and took to praise him.
“That’s absolutely class from a class player. We can all learn something from that,” one commented.
“THIS! This right here! Shout it from the mountaintop. Mindset and actions of a truly special player and human,” a second added.
“Wonderful young man and a great role model. Well done,” a third said.
“Such as classy guy. A great role model for the adults, and the kids,” a fourth concluded.
Balogun said red card was ‘not the right call’
Due to FIFA’s regulations, Balogun was not allowed to speak to members of the media following his red card.
Before training on Friday, he addressed members of the media and said a yellow card would have been the fairer result.
“There’s nowhere else to put your leg. It’s going to be unavoidable,” Balogun said.
“So, I’ve seen many different opinions and takes. 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.
“It’s difficult to see red in any game, but in such a high pressured tournament – high pressured situation there were many emotions but for me, the most important thing was trying to stay calm.
The victory over Bosnia was USMNT’s first World Cup knockout win since 2022, and Mauricio Pochettino became the winningest manager in World Cup history.
Pochettino hoped he would be able to appeal the red card, but it is not permitted, meaning Balogun will miss the Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.
Pochettino may now have take a leaf out of Ted Lasso’s book and get creative without his star man on the field.
Thankfully, for Poch and the USA, Balogun will be available for selection once against should they reach the quarterfinal.
Stay up to date with USMNT across all our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET
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📚 Información de la Fuente
| 📰 Publicación: | talksport.com |
| ✍️ Autor: | Alex Worth |
| 📅 Fecha Original: | 2026-07-04 13:02:00 |
| 🔗 Enlace: | Ver artículo original |
Nota de transparencia: Este artículo ha sido traducido y adaptado del inglés al español para facilitar su comprensión. El contenido se mantiene fiel a la fuente original, disponible en el enlace proporcionado arriba.
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