And it was none of those things. I really don’t care about your faggoty little game anyway and now my interest in it is completely over with the USA out.
Balogun hit the opposing player with his cleats.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hxTXnj610QQ
That is a serious foul and dangerous play, and always has been as far back as I go. I lived in Europe for twenty years and caught my first World Cup in 1970 when Pele was playing for Brazil. For several years I worked alongside Brits, one of whom was a football referee who schooled inquisitive Yanks on the rules of the game, in particular yellow cards, red cards, and the offsides rule. In my 56 years of following the World Cup, Sunday was the first time I ever heard of intent being being an element of an offense.
It appears this was the first time that an automatic one game suspension following a red card sendoff was rescinded. A previous similar case was in 1962, and involved then Brazilian star Garrincha who was sent off in the semi-final. At that time there was no automatic one-game suspension, but the FIFA disciplinary committee had to meet to decide whether to impose a suspension. They chose not to issue a suspension and Garrincha played in the final which Brazil won. Subsequently, a rules change imposed an automatic one game suspension.
The USMNT is not, and never has been, an elite team in the world of international soccer. The elite teams of the world are still simply better. The best athletes in the United States are not playing soccer. The USMNT is not exactly improving by leaps and bounds. Landon Donovan said that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzcSsqfBMDU
Landon Donovan on Why America Can't Produce Soccer Stars
And they are not starting to play at age 5 either.
TL;DNR
My brother and I wewre both soccer refs and we both agree that a red, with a minimum 1-day suspension was legit. My brother refereed for about 35 yrs and I for six yrs. He refereed some friendly international matches (by country) and I was the linesman for a Concaacaf match and proud of it.
Kudos to the USA for reaching the round of 16.
Take care.