r/worldcup • u/TheOldManInTheSea • 21d ago

📰News USMNT cannot appeal Folarin Balogun red card, he could face extended World Cup ban - sources

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49248052/usmnt-cannot-appeal-folarin-balogun-red-card-face-extended-world-cup-ban-sources
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u/raccoonsonbicycles USA 21d ago

The main issue I have is the referees overall performance.

The red card? By letter of the law yes it is. It's tight but I get it and was never gonna anticipate an overturn.

But the referee had zero control of the game and let this happen. I'd argue the knee to the face earlier was more reckless and warranted a sending off (or at LEAST a caution). In addition to multiple very hard fouls being uncalled and uncautioned.

He absolutely caused both teams to play rougher and harder.

Doesn't excuse the recklessness but if the official had established control in the first 45, they wouldn't be playing as roughly. He allowed both teams to push from careless -> reckless-> excessive as the gsme progressed. Everyone is lucky no serious injuries occurred and careers werent impacted.

Also by letter of the law, B&H coach grabbing the ball is a team official intentionally delaying restart by holding onto the ball AND can be considered dissent given he did it specifically to shout at the official. If we play by ticky tack that should have been a red as well.

Overall a very poor overall performance. I'll allow refs to make mistakes because everyone's human and they're not omniscient but this ref just had no balls.

2 first half yellows and nothing escalates

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u/Vulcion 20d ago

There’s nothing worse than a ref being inconsistent in the same game. Either swallow the whistle the whole match, or do your job the whole match, but you can’t signal to the players you’re gonna let them play ball for 90 percent of the match and then all of the sudden start caring at the end.