Robert Griffin III, the former NFL quarterback turned Fox Sports analyst, joined a chorus of sports celebrities in condemning the red card issued to U.S. World Cup star Folarin Balogun on Wednesday. Griffin's critique, however, stood out for its memorable and humorous tone.
Balogun, the leading scorer for the U.S. team in the World Cup, had already put the Americans ahead 1-0 in their eventual 2-0 round of 32 victory over Bosnia Herzegovina. In the second half, he stepped on the ankle of Bosnian player Tarik Muharemovic as both approached the ball. The referee issued a red card, ejecting Balogun from the match and barring him from the Americans' round of 16 clash against Belgium on Monday.
Griffin's Award-Winning Assessment
Griffin, a former Heisman Trophy winner, offered a biting analysis on social media. “USA has its best chance to win a World Cup and a bogus Red Card is given to our best player to keep him out of the next game in the Round of 16?” he wrote. “THEY DON’T WANT TO SEE US WIN AND HAVE TO CALL IT SOCCER.”
Even if Griffin was merely venting or jesting, his comments captured the frustration of many fans and analysts.
Mahomes and Other NFL Stars Weigh In
Three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes also chimed in with a simple but emphatic “Come on!!” on Twitter. U.S. Coach Mauricio Pochettino agreed with the criticism. “That was a normal action in football,” he said. “That happened by accident and it’s never intentional. That is why for me it was never a red card.”
Other sports figures added their voices. NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki tweeted, “That’s not a red!!!”, while NFL quarterback Caleb Williams called the decision “insane.” Former NFL star JJ Watt highlighted the stakes: “Announcers should definitely be informing the audience that Balogun will miss next match, assuming we win tonight. Massive, massive implications there. Huge loss.” ESPN’s Mina Kimes simply called it “WEAK.”
Questions Over VAR
Soccer analyst Taylor Twellman questioned the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR), tweeting, “Hey @FIFAcom where was VAR on this?!” The incident has sparked widespread debate over the consistency of officiating in the tournament.
The red card means Balogun will be suspended for the crucial round of 16 match against Belgium, a significant blow to the U.S. team's chances as they seek their first World Cup title.
