When United States player Folarin Balogun received a red card last week in his team’s World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, it left a bad taste in his mouth along with many American fans following the team.
On Sunday, though, FIFA suspended his red card, making him available for Monday night’s Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle. The decision transcended soccer, as the NFL world had plenty of strong reactions as well.
Folarin Balogun’s Red Card Situation Draws Ire of NFL Followers
FIFA’s statement according to ESPN, which was put out on the organization’s website, said, “By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one [1] year.”
Former longtime ESPN anchor Trey Wingo had some thoughts on the situation as well. Wingo posted on X, “Well that certainly changes things. And for anyone saying this is beyond the pale…remember 2 things: it’s FIFA – and the did this for Ronaldo allowing him to play in the 1st two games for Portugal.”
Well that certainly changes things. And for anyone saying this is beyond the pale…remember 2 things: it’s FIFA – and the did this for Ronaldo allowing him to play in the 1st two games for Portugal https://t.co/VLoq6p7XMz https://t.co/inGaCmFH08
— trey wingo (@wingoz) July 5, 2026
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Harold R. Kuntz, sports anchor for Fox 4 Kansas City, wrote on Sunday, “Wow. The fact that it was the Global Governing body going against their own system … that they didn’t even follow .. is incredible.”
Wow. The fact that it was the Global Governing body going against their own system … that they didn’t even follow .. is incredible. https://t.co/Ri8WWf62pT
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) July 5, 2026
NFL podcast host Sam Monson put things a bit matter-of-factly when it came to Balogun and his red card.
He wrote, “Imo the red card was bs, so it’s the correct outcome, but that process is a complete farce. Just like Ronaldo being allowed play, it’s complete arbitrary bs.”
Imo the red card was bs, so it’s the correct outcome, but that process is a complete farce.
Just like Ronaldo being allowed play, it’s complete arbitrary bs. https://t.co/JCnENhNQ03
— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) July 5, 2026
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Barstool Sports host Dan Katz, who is better known as “Big Cat” online, sarcastically tipped his cap toward FIFA.
Katz wrote, “Shout out FIFA. I think we can all agree FIFA is a great organization that always does the right thing and in no way is this about it directly benefiting USMNT.”
Shout out FIFA. I think we can all agree FIFA is a great organization that always does the right thing and in no way is this about it directly benefiting USMNT
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) July 5, 2026
Benjamin Allbright, who covers the Denver Broncos for Denver radio station KOA, also seemed to take note that the red card just wasn’t deserved.
“I mean that red card was BS in the first place and this is a tacit admission of that, but to do that to a team like Belgium 24 hours before the game is kind of….yeah. I’ll take it since we’re the beneficiaries, but we all know what it is,” he wrote.
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Retired NFL legend Tom Brady also had a quick comment on Balogun, indicating that he’s expecting the U.S. player to score against Belgium.
We’re adding a Balogun goal to this list tomorrow 🇺🇸 https://t.co/8duvUZUwqU
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) July 5, 2026
“We’re adding a Balogun goal to this list tomorrow,” Brady wrote.
With all of these reactions from the NFL world and, well, from other corners of the sports world, too, the U.S.-Belgium broadcast on Fox on Monday night should draw big numbers.
It’s a big deal in the soccer world for a U.S. squad that will be supported by thousands of American fans in Seattle.
