19 minutes ago, devpool said:

It shouldn't have been used at all. There was no call on the field, if they VARd every challenge like that the games would be 6 hours long. The guy got up and played the rest of the game no problem, like every other player in this sport.

It was VAR'd because Balogun caught him with his cleats and continued contact until the defender planted that foot on the ground and forcibly rolled his ankle because of it. This does not happen nearly as often as you're implying to make games last 6 hours if these all got reviewed.

I'll say it again since you keep going in circles, the issue is NOT that it went to review, the issue is that the ref somehow decided this was a reckless or malicious challenge and with force deserving of a red instead of a yellow. There was no malice here and it wasn't a reckless tackle like the English fullback who went to the ground studs up at full speed.

You keep framing this incident like Balogun was completely innocent and the review should never have occurred, which only proves you have an incomplete or misguided understanding of the rules. The fact he played the rest of the game and seemed "fine" is irrelevant to the reason for why this was called to a review. Believe me, you would not be as unwilling to call this a challenge worthy of a booking if you've ever experienced the pain this type of tackle causes.

1 minute ago, we_gotta_believe said:

It was VAR'd because Balogun caught him with his cleats and continued contact until the defender planned that foot on the ground and forcibly rolled his ankle because of it. This does not happen nearly as often as you're implying to make games last 6 hours if these all got reviewed.

I'll say it again since you keep going in circles, the issue is NOT that it went to review, the issue is that the ref somehow decided this was a reckless challenge with malice and force deserving of a red instead of a yellow. There was no malice here and it wasn't a reckless tackle like the English fullback who went to the ground studs up at full speed.

You keep framing this incident like Balogun was completely innocent and the review should never have occurred, which only proves you have an incomplete or misguided understanding of the rules. The fact he played the rest of the game and seemed "fine" is irrelevant to the reason for why this was called to a review. Believe me, you would not be as unwilling to call this a challenge worthy of a booking if you've ever experienced the pain this type of tackle causes.

"Continued contact", he supposed to just stop his leg mid air while he's trying to plant his foot at full speed? And that's why slow motion isnt used in this circumstance, it looks like he "continues" when in reality that's what momentum does when you're trying to plant your foot.

Incidental yellow, shouldn't have even gone to review but you have an incompetent ref, an incompetent VAR crew, and here we are.

3 minutes ago, devpool said:

"Continued contact", he supposed to just stop his leg mid air while he's trying to plant his foot at full speed? And that's why slow motion isnt used in this circumstance, it looks like he "continues" when in reality that's what momentum does when you're trying to plant your foot.

Incidental yellow, shouldn't have even gone to review but you have an incompetent ref, an incompetent VAR crew, and here we are.

Yes, he continued contact. That's a fact. It was unavoidable contact because of his momentum and at some point he has to plant his foot on the ground too but it's clearly a yellow card because of the following:

• He's not in a position to play the ball when initiating the challenge

• Does not come close to playing the ball at the conclusion of the play

• Makes contact with his cleats above the opponents ankle

• Continues forceful contact and causes the opponent to roll his ankle

And yes, of course the ref should've pulled out a yellow on the field in real-time, but he missed it (as all refs do in all sports.) So once he misses it, the VAR official rightfully steps in to bring it to his attention.

The fact that any of the above is being debated is kind of ridiculous, assuming you're being honest when you said you've been watching or playing soccer your whole life.

I'm certainly no expert on VAR rules, but the best argument I've seen on them being misapplied is a statement that the referee was shown ONLY stills and slow motion, but not full speed to assess context. Way out of my depth here, but it was clear to anyone watching that should have been, at worst, a yellow card.

12 hours ago, DrPhilly said:

Yikes - A new twist may be emerging. Apparently Belgium is considering an appeal to CAS (some sort of binding sports arbitration court) and it is likely that CAS does not have time to take a decision before the game is played. However, if it goes to CAS and if the decision is taken in Belgium's favor and if it occurs after the match then the US would forfeit the game if Balogun has played in it. Maybe we should just take Greenland after all.

22 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I'm certainly no expert on VAR rules, but the best argument I've seen on them being misapplied is a statement that the referee was shown ONLY stills and slow motion, but not full speed to assess context. Way out of my depth here, but it was clear to anyone watching that should have been, at worst, a yellow card.

The bigger issue I have with the EUROFAGS crying is this rule was literally first implemented to help PORTUGAL and the biggest European athlete in history so he wouldn’t miss any time.

None of them cried like little bishes then, it’s only when the US benefits that they have a problem.

Europeans are the softest b1tches on the planet

25 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I'm certainly no expert on VAR rules, but the best argument I've seen on them being misapplied is a statement that the referee was shown ONLY stills and slow motion, but not full speed to assess context. Way out of my depth here, but it was clear to anyone watching that should have been, at worst, a yellow card.

I haven't seen that mentioned. The article I read stated that he was shown stills and slo mo in addition to the full speed replay.

And for those who are saying slo mo should've been forbidden, you'll notice it was also used in the VAR review of the red card last night against Mexico as well. As eagles fans, we're familiar with debates over "what is a catch" and "surviving the process of going to the ground", but the subjectivity of calls by soccer refs is far worse. And this is with a governing body that took far too long to embrace technology that had been in use in other sports for decades. Anyone who's been burned by bad calls or no calls from shiddy soccer refs in the past would agree that we need less subjectivity in these decisions, not more.

2 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

I haven't seen that mentioned. The article I read stated that he was shown stills and slo mo in addition to the full speed replay.

And for those who are saying slo mo should've been forbidden, you'll notice it was also used in the VAR review of the red card last night against Mexico as well. As eagles fans, we're familiar with debates over "what is a catch" and "surviving the process of going to the ground", but the subjectivity of calls by soccer refs is far worse. And this is with a governing body that took far too long to embrace technology that had been in use in other sorts for decades. Anyone who's been burned by bad calls or no calls from shiddy soccer refs in the past would agree that we need less subjectivity in these decisions, not more.

Yeah, that's what I read, that he was only shown slow motion and stills. Who knows what the truth is.

Watching this collective European crash out is awesome. I kinda want them not to start Balogun, then when they sub him in, Real American (Hulk Hogan's theme song) starts blasting in the stadium.

I think there's at least a 25% chance these wimps forfeit.

6 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Yeah, that's what I read, that he was only shown slow motion and stills. Who knows what the truth is.

Watching this collective European crash out is awesome. I kinda want them not to start Balogun, then when they sub him in, Real American (Hulk Hogan's theme song) starts blasting in the stadium.

I believe there should be transcripts of the communication between the center and the VAR official so it's gotta be documented somewhere to clarify what he was being presented with and what he asked for in addition to that.

From the article I was referring to:

In the second replay shown to the on-field referee, the video is slowed down as Balogun makes contact with the opponent. On a third, it is initially played at normal speed, but then frozen at the point of contact, and the key moments are then played out in slow motion, presenting the incident in the least flattering light possible for the American.

Two further replays are shown from further away angles at normal speed, implying the incident to be more of a jostle and battle for a loose ball between a defender and a forward. Still, by then, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus had appeared to have already made up his mind.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7415297/2026/07/02/folarin-balogun-var-world-cup-referees/

So if they violated protocols to use slo-mo here, then they did it again last night in Mexico City and a handful of other matches I've seen over the years where someone gets a red after VAR review of a tackle.

6 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I think there's at least a 25% chance these wimps forfeit.

Not a snowball's chance in the hell they forfeit. Not over this. They'll play the game and file their little complaint but there's too much at stake to worry about moral victories or taking stances against perceived corruption when the tournament only comes around every 4 years.

No way they forfeit. Surely there would be far worse consequences from FIFA then being forced to play against the best US goal scorer if they did.

6 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

I believe there should be transcripts of the communication between the center and the VAR official so it's gotta be documented somewhere to clarify what he was being presented with and what he asked for in addition to that.

From the article I was referring to:

In the second replay shown to the on-field referee, the video is slowed down as Balogun makes contact with the opponent. On a third, it is initially played at normal speed, but then frozen at the point of contact, and the key moments are then played out in slow motion, presenting the incident in the least flattering light possible for the American.

Two further replays are shown from further away angles at normal speed, implying the incident to be more of a jostle and battle for a loose ball between a defender and a forward. Still, by then, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus had appeared to have already made up his mind.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7415297/2026/07/02/folarin-balogun-var-world-cup-referees/

So if they violated protocols to use slo-mo here, then they did it again last night in Mexico City and a handful of other matches I've seen over the years where someone gets a red after VAR review of a tackle.

Not a snowball's chance in the hell they forfeit. Not over this. They'll play the game and file their little complaint but there's too much at stake to worry about moral victories or taking stances against perceived corruption when the tournament only comes around every 4 years.

1 minute ago, The_Omega said:

No way they forfeit. Surely there would be far worse consequences from FIFA then being forced to play against the best US goal scorer if they did.

Counterpoint - they are whiny little Euro ****.

36 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Europeans are the softest b1tches on the planet

From world conquerors to the biggest bunch of ****boy born LOSERS on the planet.

I can’t wait to take the remnants of Belgium‘s "golden generation” behind the woodshed and put these god forsaken losers out of their misery.

1 hour ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Yes, he continued contact. That's a fact. It was unavoidable contact because of his momentum and at some point he has to plant his foot on the ground too but it's clearly a yellow card because of the following:

• He's not in a position to play the ball when initiating the challenge

• Does not come close to playing the ball at the conclusion of the play

• Makes contact with his cleats above the opponents ankle

• Continues forceful contact and causes the opponent to roll his ankle

And yes, of course the ref should've pulled out a yellow on the field in real-time, but he missed it (as all refs do in all sports.) So once he misses it, the VAR official rightfully steps in to bring it to his attention.

The fact that any of the above is being debated is kind of ridiculous, assuming you're being honest when you said you've been watching or playing soccer your whole life.

Yes, we've already determine it should've been a yellow. But if the difference is missing a yellow or issuing a completely erroneous red, one mistake severely outweighs the other. What is the purpose of VAR if this subjectivity can cripple a team with one "mistake" and there are no checks and balances? Played basically 40 minutes with 10 men and then would have been down one of their best players for a critical match.

It's absurd that there was zero community outrage over the card itself but now everyone is pissing themselves

Edit: the phrase "he continued contact" implies intent, that is the problem i have with that wording. You agree it was unavoidable due to momentum, he stepped to play the ball and his momentum carried his leg through the step. Saying he continued implies he had an option to stop

1 hour ago, vikas83 said:

Yeah, that's what I read, that he was only shown slow motion and stills. Who knows what the truth is.

Watching this collective European crash out is awesome. I kinda want them not to start Balogun, then when they sub him in, Real American (Hulk Hogan's theme song) starts blasting in the stadium.

I think there's at least a 25% chance these wimps forfeit.

A part of me wishes they would sit him, go up a few goals, sub him in, and run up the score

I feel like this satire could actually be true.

1 hour ago, vikas83 said:

Europeans are the softest b1tches on the planet

No ish - why do you think @DrPhilly moved there?

USA just turned into the Mets on that Belgium goal. Everybody just stand around and watch the ball go by them. Awesome

What FIFA really needs to deal with is all these fogtags flopping around on the ground every time they dont play a ball the right way. Wanna flop around like you got shot? Do it on the sideline and you can't be subbed. Waste so much time on this crap and teams all do it after they go up a goal.

10 minutes ago, RoadToHell said:

USA just turned into the Mets on that Belgium goal. Everybody just stand around and watch the ball go by them. Awesome

Ream literally watched it roll right by him