He added: “If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand. But that was a normal action in football that you are, you know, fighting for the ball and your feet land, no?”
The U.S. was also not able to appeal the decision, leaving Balogun’s fate in the hands of the disciplinary committee.
“I think in this stage of the tournament where every player is important, I think it’s a bit bogus,” U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie said of the situation.
Christina Unkel, a referee and rules analyst who once worked as a FIFA referee, told NBC News this month the foul should not have been reviewed in the first place because it was not clear and obvious.
“It was a bit of a surprise that VAR actually made a recommendation down for what one would argue is more of a subjective play, that there is debate on both sides,” Unkel said.
(Be glad for birthright citizenship huh)
Balogun, 25, has been a breakout star for the U.S. during the World Cup.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Nigerian parents, he was in the U.S. only because his parents were visiting New York and his mother was deemed too pregnant to fly back to London.
After having played for England during his youth career, Balogun ultimately decided to play for the U.S. when he had to pick a country for the senior level.
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