Balogun was sent off for a challenge on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic: he appeared to drag his cleats down the back of Muharemovic’s leg and onto his foot, which the referee reviewed on VAR before showing a red card. Reports described it as a controversial decision, with some saying it looked accidental rather than intentional.

What happened

  • The incident came in the second half of the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • The foul was called after VAR review, and the referee judged it serious enough for a straight red.
  • Several reports say the contact was harsh but possibly unintentional.

Why it mattered

  • The red card initially triggered a suspension for the next match against Belgium.
  • Later reports said FIFA suspended the ban, making Balogun available again.

TL;DR: He got the red for a VAR-reviewed challenge where his cleats came down on an opponent’s leg/foot, though the call was widely debated.