US Soccer Threatens FIFA with Legal Action Over Balogun's Red Card

The United States Soccer Federation was prepared to take FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after Folarin Balogun was sent off in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to a report from The New York Post. Sources close to the federation claim that the VAR system was used improperly during the incident. U.S. Soccer officials believe the referee made an error in showing Balogun a straight red card, and that the decision could have repercussions for the striker’s involvement with the national team going forward. The federation reportedly considered filing an official appeal with CAS if FIFA refused to overturn the suspension. While no formal complaint has been submitted yet, insiders say legal preparations were already underway. The match itself carried no competitive stakes, but U.S. Soccer views the case as a matter of procedural integrity regarding VAR usage.