Folarin Balogun was playing for AS Monaco when he got the red card. Specifically, the incident happened during Monaco’s Ligue 1 match against RC Lens on 8 November 2025, when he was sent off just before halftime for a dangerous challenge on Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangare.

What happened in that match

The red card came in a match that ended badly for Monaco:

  • Balogun had just scored for Monaco.
  • Shortly before halftime, he was shown a straight red card for an ankle-level, dangerous challenge on Sangare.
  • Monaco lost the game 4–1 to Lens.

That suspension then became relevant at the international level, because:

  • The red led to an automatic one-match ban for Balogun with the United States national team.
  • During the 2026 World Cup, that ban was unusually suspended by FIFA after President Donald Trump reportedly called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, sparking controversy and appeals from UEFA and Belgium.

Why people remember the red card

The red card itself was a standard Ligue 1 disciplinary incident, but it later became a major talking point because:

  • It tied Balogun’s club suspension (with Monaco) to his eligibility for the USMNT in the World Cup.
  • The subsequent FIFA decision to lift the ban was seen as highly irregular and politically influenced, leading to accusations that rules were bent to accommodate the US president.

So, to answer your question directly: Balgon (Folarin Balogun) was playing for AS Monaco when he received the red card. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.