This was a fair decision by FIFA: Former USMNT player
Former US men’s team defender Jonathan Bornstein discusses FIFA’s controversial decision to overturn Balogun’s red card suspension, allowing him to play in the critical World Cup round of 16 match. Bornstein explains why the call was “correct” and contrasts it with the Norwegian coach’s criticism. The USA faces top-ranked Belgium.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a huge success, both on and off the pitch. Visiting fans have raved about the experience of coming to the US and enjoying the country’s hospitality. Host venues across the country have been widely praised for exceptional facilities and unique atmospheres.
But even the most successful tournament is not without controversy. The biggest, through the first few rounds, was Folarin Balogun’s red card. The card shown to Balogun in the U.S. Men’s National Team game against Bosnia and Herzegovina was given based on incorrect application of the VAR rules. FIFA then suspended his ban for one match to allow him to play against Belgium in the Round of 16.
European fans, commentators and their football associations went ballistic. But even they pale in comparison to the accusations being thrown around by players and coaches from the Egyptian team following their shock 3-2 loss to Argentina and Lionel Messi on Tuesday afternoon.
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Lionel Messi (10) of Argentina celebrates his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Speaking to the media after the match, Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan did not hold back in his criticism of the referee.
“We haven’t seen respect or fair play,” Hassan said. “One penalty was ruled out, and another [incident] that should have been checked for a penalty to us wasn’t even checked by VAR. Another goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed.”
“I would like to put it in beautiful words and say, ‘Hard luck,’ but we have been treated unfairly and it has been an injustice,” he continued.
Egypt were 1-0 up and looked set to take a 2-0 lead, only for the second goal to be disallowed after a VAR review determined there had been a foul around 20 seconds earlier on the other side of the pitch. Egypt scored again, but the 2-0 scoreline could have been 3-0 instead, making the incredible Argentina comeback even more unlikely. Then there were several other questionable calls, including a potential penalty that could have been given after a foul on star Mohamed Salah.
“We looked better than the reigning champions – better in everything – but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it,” Hassan also told reporters. “Maybe they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Maybe they wanted Messi to keep driving.
“In football, sometimes there are external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champion received support at all levels.”
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“There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has led to this result,” he added. “Life is unfair. The world is unfair. OK, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports? I’m not convinced by this result and the way things turned out in this match.”
Hossam Hassan, manager and head coach of Egypt, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026. (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Striker Mostafa Ziko said something similar, saying his Egyptian side were “roughed up” by the referee.
“We were hard done by [the referee] today, and everyone saw it. I don’t want to talk about such things. We won 2-0. After the 2-0 result, everything went against us and worked against us. I don’t even know why the second goal was disallowed, I don’t see any reason for it. But we must look for a solution so that another goal does not come. He also wanted to reject the third, but thank God he did not succeed.”
“It was a rich game,” Ziko said. “It wasn’t our fault. That referee… it looks like this match was rigged. We won 2-0 and he kept coming at us. Congratulations to Argentina on another World Cup it seems.”
It is almost certain that FIFA is happy that Messi and Argentina are through to the quarter-finals. Messi remains arguably the biggest star on the international stage and interest and viewership will be higher as long as he and his team are in the tournament. But that doesn’t mean the match was “rigged”. The VAR review to disallow Egypt’s second goal seemed out of place, although some of the other disputed calls were the type of borderline decisions that could go either way.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) celebrates their second goal during the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP photo)
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However, the most important variable that none of the Egyptian players or their coach want to acknowledge is that had they wanted to win, they simply could not have allowed three goals in 25 minutes.
