FIFA is facing accusations of referee bias after Folarin Balogun was shown a red card for a leg contact foul against Bosnia, while Lionel Messi escaped punishment for a nearly identical incident earlier in the tournament.
The question spreading across social media on Wednesday night is simple and cutting: why does Lionel Messi get away with it when Folarin Balogun doesn’t?
Balogun was sent off during the USA’s Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after VAR reviewed his accidental foot contact with Tarik Muharemovic’s leg and ruled it a straight red card offence.
Soccer fans were immediately up in arms — and they came with receipts. Earlier in the tournament, Messi made direct cleat contact to the back of a player’s leg in strikingly similar circumstances. No VAR review. No red card. Nothing.
The contrasting decisions have ignited accusations of blatant referee bias and preferential treatment toward the Argentine legend, with fans and pundits describing the inconsistency as “laughable” and demanding answers from FIFA.
Balogun’s red card was particularly costly for the co-hosts. The striker is their top scorer and will now serve an automatic suspension for the USA’s Round of 16 clash against Belgium — a side riding high after coming from behind to beat Senegal 3-2.
FIFA has not responded to the bias allegations.
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