Can the US appeal a red card? How appeals work in the World Cup

During the United States' match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Round 32 of the World Cup, striker Folarin Balogun received a red card for stepping on the ankle of opposing player Tariq Muharemović. Referee Rafael Claus' decision - after a VAR review - left the USA shorthanded for the rest of the match and ruled Balogun out of the next match against Belgium. It was a controversial decision that deprived the US team of one of its best scorers in a key match to advance to the quarterfinals. The question that arises is: is it possible to appeal the red card, which could reverse Balogun's one-match suspension? The answer is no. According to the FIFA Regulations (Article 9, Section 6) "No protests may be made against a referee's decisions relating to facts relating to the game. These decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise provided in the FIFA Disciplinary Code." Additionally, FIFA regulations (Article 10, Section 6) state that "If a player or team staff member is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card [second warning], they shall automatically be suspended from their team's next match. In addition, additional sanctions may be imposed." Can the U.S. team do something about it? She could have appealed the decision, but because it was a subjective decision by the referee - and not a factual error, such as a red card for contact that clearly wasn't made - FIFA won't consider it under its disciplinary code. However, if FIFA decides Balogun's foul merits more than a one-match suspension and imposes an additional penalty, the U.S. could appeal the decision.  No matter what, Balogun will not play in the match against Belgium. "The problem is that FIFA sets a very high standard, especially when it's a VAR intervention. It's not clearly [actually] wrong by the referee," FOX Sports analyst and former FIFA referee Mark Clattenburg said on World Cup NOW. “And if they think [Balogun's foul] is enough, they can increase that booking from one match to any amount they decide.” Was the red card right? Clattenburg explained what happened during this situation from his perspective. “When I watched it at normal speed, I thought it was a collision between two players,” Clattenburg noted on World Cup NOW. "You can see that Balogun's foul actually hits the opponent on the back of the leg and when the foot comes down it hits [Muharemovic's] ankle. The problem is that the requirements for a red card have to include some speed, power and malice. That's missing." He added why he did not agree with Balogun's red card. "But what it does is endanger the opponent's safety because of that foot-to-foot foul, which could have resulted in a broken ankle. But in my opinion it did not endanger the opponent's safety. Balogun wasn't even looking for a foul. It was an accidental foul and didn't meet [the requirements for] a red card." The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will still review the foul and decide what will happen next for Balogun - specifically whether a suspension longer than one match will be imposed. "The FIFA disciplinary committee will look at this foul [on Thursday], and if they consider it a dangerous foul that could have jeopardizedopponent's safety, they can upgrade it," Clattenburg said. “I doubt it, in my opinion, because I believe it was an accident and they believe he was worthy of a red card. And that's where they go for the red card. It shouldn't be increased." --- ## Related Articles 1. [Reações à expulsão de Balogun: Polémica com Messi em foco](https://quinasgoal.com/noticias/reacoes-a-expulsao-de-balogun-polemica-com-messi-em-foco) 2. [포르투갈, 크로아티아를 2-1로 제압 - 월드컵 2026 하이라이트](https://taegeukgoal.com/ko/news/2-1-2026)