FOLARIN BALOGUN was controversially sent off for the USA – and his World Cup could be over.
The American striker scored the opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina just before half-time.
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Folarin Balogun was sent off for his challenge on Tarik Muharemovic Credit: Getty
Referee Raphael Claus brandished the red card Credit: Getty
Balogun even hit LeBron James’ iconic ‘Silencer’ celebration – just minutes after he did it for a goal ruled out for offside.
But he was given his marching orders just after the hour mark.
Balogun went into a challenge with Tarik Muharemovic and accidentally caught his Bosnian opponent, racking his studs down his leg and catching him on the ankle as he landed.
Initially, a free-kick was awarded but no more.
However, the referee was ordered to go and watch the replay.
And he decided to upgrade his call – and brandished the red card.
Balogun was left stunned by the decision and clearly gutted.
He is set to for a one-match ban, which rules him out of the last-16 tie with Belgium after they held on for victory.
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Balogun went off heartbroken after the harsh call Credit: AP
He caught Muharemovic on his ankle as they landed Credit: Getty
But Fifa could upgrade it to two matches – which could be a World Cup quarter-final against likely Spain or Portugal should they progress without their main center forward.
Ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg felt the USA striker was hard done by.
He said on Fox Sports: “I don’t believe it’s a good use of VAR.
“It’s just an accident. This happens.
“You can see he’s upset by it.
“This doesn’t meet the criteria for a red card and it’s certainly going to change the course of the game.”
And plenty of high-profile American soccer fans flooded social media with their reaction to the red card.
Landon Donovan blasted: “Absolute BS.”
Clint Dempsey replied: “That’s a yellow at most, not a red.”
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Patrick Mahomes said: “Man what……”
Wife Brittany added: “That was some bulls*** – all I have to say.”
Josh Hart tweeted: “Bro that’s a red card?!”
JJ Watt posted: “You’ve gotta be kidding me….”
And Jason Kelce wrote: “Man, somebody help me. That foul looked incidental from Balogun – shouldn’t a red card be given if there is either intention to foul, or an action that is aggressive and unsafe in nature?
“Didn’t feel like Balogun was out of control or anything, just looked like it kind of happened.”
USA were not rattled by being reduced to ten men, though.
Malik Tillman scored a direct free-kick on 82 minutes to put the USMNT on the brink of the last 16.
And after an extra ten minutes of injury time, the 2-0 victory was confirmed.
