Justice for U.S. star Folarin Balogun, red card for VAR
Los Angeles Times • • sports
Key Points:
- U.S. forward Folarin Balogun was controversially red-carded during the U.S. men's soccer team's 2-0 World Cup victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving the team a man down for much of the second half.
- The red card came after a VAR review of a physical challenge, with many experts and commentators arguing the contact was accidental and did not warrant a sending off.
- Critics highlight the inconsistency and delayed nature of VAR decisions, citing examples like Lionel Messi escaping a red card in a similar situation, and express frustration over the system's impact on the flow and fairness of the game.
- U.S. Soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino and former players like Thierry Henry have publicly disagreed with the red card decision, emphasizing the need for common sense and context in VAR rulings.
- The incident has intensified calls among fans and analysts for reform or removal of VAR, with many feeling it introduces more human error and inconsistency rather than eliminating it.
