Former United States international Alexi Lalas has ignited a fierce debate surrounding VAR consistency at the World Cup, following a controversial straight red card shown to USMNT striker Folarin Balogun. Lalas’s viral tweet drew a direct comparison between Balogun’s sending off and an unpunished incident involving Argentina superstar Lionel Messi earlier in the tournament, questioning perceived double standards in officiating.
Balogun was dismissed during the USMNT’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday, after a VAR review for a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic. The decision, which an unnamed VAR expert reportedly deemed “not a red card offence,” has been met with widespread criticism. There are also allegations that a VAR protocol was broken during the review process.
The implications for the USMNT are significant. Balogun, who currently stands as the USA’s top scorer at this summer’s World Cup with three goals, will now miss the crucial last 16 clash against Belgium. Furthermore, there is a risk that FIFA could extend Balogun’s punishment should the USMNT advance further in the competition.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino voiced his frustration over the decision. “It’s a normal action in football that happened by accident. It’s never intentional. That is why for me it’s never a red card,” Pochettino stated, according to GiveMeSport.
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A tale of two incidents: Messi and the VAR debate
Lalas, who earned 96 caps for the United States between 1991 and 1998, took to social media to highlight what he saw as a clear inconsistency. His tweet, simply captioned “‘Sup”, included a clip of Balogun’s foul alongside a similar challenge from Lionel Messi during Argentina’s opening World Cup match against Algeria. In that instance, Messi escaped punishment for a foul on Algeria defender Aissa Mandi, a decision that many fans and pundits believed should have resulted in a red card and, notably, was not reviewed by VAR. Messi currently leads the race for the World Cup Golden Boot award with France’s Kylian Mbappe, both on six goals.
Speaking as a FOX Sports pundit, Lalas didn’t mince words about Balogun’s dismissal. “That is not a red card. I understand that in the moment it looks bad, and when you see it on video it looks bad. But you have to have a feel and understanding of what’s going on. I thought it was a crap call,” he said. He then drew the direct comparison: “It should be said that if his name was Messi, as we have seen earlier in the tournament, he would still be on the field and he would still be able to play in Seattle on Monday.”
The official explanation for the differing decisions is that Balogun’s challenge was deemed a “serious foul,” while Messi’s was not perceived in the same way. However, this distinction has done little to quell the debate among fans and former players. Former US international Taylor Twellman also questioned FIFA directly about the absence of a VAR review for Messi’s foul, underscoring the growing frustration over the application of technology and rules in high-stakes matches.
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