Pochettino insists Balogun red card was 'never a red card' as USA striker faces Belgium ban

Mauricio Pochettino has declared that Folarin Balogun’s straight red card during the United States’ 2-0 World Cup group-stage victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara on Wednesday was “never a red card” — a decision that will cost him his star striker for the last-16 tie against Belgium.

Balogun, who had opened the scoring, was dismissed following a VAR review that showed his studs making contact with the calf of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. The decision drew widespread shock inside the 70,000-capacity stadium, with no Bosnian players initially appealing before Brazilian referee Raphael Claus confirmed the sending-off. Malik Tillman’s 82nd-minute free-kick ultimately sealed the win for a 10-man USA side who held firm for the final 25 minutes.

“For me it’s never a red card,” Pochettino said in his post-match press conference. “Watching after on TV… there was never intention to step on the player. It’s a normal action in football that happened by accident. It’s never intentional. That is why for me it’s never a red card.”

Pochettino also drew a comparison to a similar challenge by Lionel Messi in Argentina’s opening game against Algeria, which was penalised only as a foul. “For me, neither are red cards,” he said, before adding that it “should be possible to appeal the red card.” However, FIFA’s disciplinary code offers no avenue for appeal where VAR has been involved in the decision.

Despite his frustration, Pochettino was measured in his praise for how his players responded to the adversity. “The players reacted very well, we controlled that emotional part of the game, how they managed the situation was amazing, we were mature enough to continue competing,” he said.

On Balogun’s state of mind after the match, Pochettino added: “He’s very disappointed and he’s sad. It wasn’t his intention. We can do nothing to change that feeling.”

The USA will now face Belgium in Seattle on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals. Belgium reached the last 16 after coming from 2-0 down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time on Wednesday.