U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly criticized the red card decision against the national team’s star striker, Folarin Balogun, claiming that the U.S. got screwed.
During a White House briefing on Thursday, Rubio responded to a question about the U.S. team’s World Cup performance, saying that it was a great game. But it got robbed because of that red card.
He further stated that the U.S. won, but that ejection was unjustified. It needs to appeal this decision. Balogun received the red card after the video assistant referee (VAR) review for stepping on an opposing defender’s foot during the match against Bosnia, which means he’s ineligible for the upcoming Round of 16 clash with Belgium.
Rubio briefly addressed reporters while guiding visitors on a White House tour. While he shared his thoughts on the World Cup, he declined to answer questions about Lebanon and Iran, emphasizing that he’s not here to discuss current affairs.
A International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) spokesperson stated that the automatic suspension resulting from a red card is not subject to appeal. However, the U.S. national team’s Argentine head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, expressed his frustration, asserting that that was absolutely not a red card offense. Pochettino stressed that appealing the decision would be fair, but if that’s not possible, they would need to explore other options.
Balogun, born in New York and raised in the UK, currently plays for AS Monaco in France. Having already netted three goals in this World Cup, he’s a key striker for the U.S. team, making his potential absence a significant setback for their campaign.