World Cup VAR review: Misapplied protocols leave Balogun wrongly red-carded

The World Cup VAR review recounts how “misapplied protocols” are blamed for Folarin Balogun’s red card after a U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The analysis describes a World Cup moment dated July 1, with referee Raphael Claus and VAR handled by Juan Ernesto Soto Arévalo, following an incident at 63 minutes. Balogun, the U.S. goal scorer, was sent off after a VAR check for serious foul play based on contact with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. The review states VAR recommended an on-field monitor review, arguing the defender’s right ankle buckled under contact. The article’s former referee, Andy Davies, says the contact was purely accidental in normal ball challenges and argues VAR relied on slow-motion and still replays not suited to point-of-contact evaluation. It also notes that once shown the images, a sending-off would likely have been expected.