The United States team is embroiled in a debate over the red card issued to star striker Falorin Balogun during their 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The second-half ejection, which was called after a video replay review, has left fans and players frustrated, with some arguing that it was too harsh or that other players, such as Argentina's Lionel Messi, have avoided similar punishment. Red cards are the most severe form of discipline in football, resulting in a player being sent off, their team playing shorthanded for the remainder of the game, and the ejected player being suspended for the next match. The red card system was invented after the 1966 World Cup by former referee Ken Aston. Balogun's red card has ignited discussion over whether the foul was intentional or merely a hard tackle that could have been penalized with a yellow card instead. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino maintains that the foul was not intentional, arguing that it was a normal football action. The referee's discretion plays a significant role in such incidents, and mistakes can occur. FIFA introduced Video Assisted Review (VAR) in the World Cup in 2018 to minimize errors, but even this technology has come under scrutiny following Balogun's red card. If the U.S. manages to beat Belgium on Monday, Balogun could potentially return for the quarterfinals. The controversy surrounding the red card suspension has been a recurring theme in the World Cup, with top players like Messi entangled in questionable plays. For example, during Argentina's first match, Messi's studs-up challenge from behind went unpunished despite leaving Algeria defender Aissa Mandi injured. Critics have raised concerns about inconsistencies in card issuance throughout the tournament.