After a controversial red card for stepping on Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle in the USMNT’s Round of 32 matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Falorin Balogun has been the center of attention. The team, as well as the U.S. government, including President Donald Trump, has been trying to get the suspension rescinded.
While FIFA announced its decision to let Balogun play in Monday’s Round of 16 matchup against Belgium, several fans have voiced their opinion on FIFA not being consistent with its rules, as the card warranted a one-game ban.
However, Michigan superfan Dave Portnoy is not having any of it. The Barstool owner hit back at critics in a series of X (formerly Twitter) posts on Monday. One of them pointed to FIFA letting Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo off the hook in a similar fashion, allowing him to play the first two games of the World Cup, for which he was previously suspended.
Portnoy said:
The incident Portnoy referenced here is Ronaldo getting a red card for elbowing a player in the final competitive game before the World Cup, which carried over the suspension to the start of the tourney. However, it was later rescinded.
Portnoy also shared Barstool merch conveying his support for the USMNT, saying:
Taking a Look At Dave Portnoy’s Michigan Ties
While Portnoy has been vocal in his support for Michigan football and basketball, the Barstool owner is also connected to the team financially. While the exact extent of his donations is unknown, Portnoy has previously pledged up to $3 million in NIL money for an “elite quarterback” every year.
Portnoy was also involved in bringing donations from Oracle’s top brass, Larry Ellison, after his wife, Jolin, turned out to be a fan of Barstool. Portnoy addressed the unexpected crossover on his podcast in November 2024, saying:
“I got a call from the Michigan football team. They said, ‘Hey, there’s this donor who wants to talk to you.’ I said that I’m doing this by myself and I don’t need to talk to anybody. And they said, ‘Please, this woman is a big fan of Barstool and you; she’d love to talk to you. Her name is Jolin. … They said her husband is a guy by the name of Larry Ellison, you ever heard of him?’”
The collaboration ultimately led to Michigan landing standout quarterback Bryce Underwood. Portnoy said:
“[Jolin Ellison] said, ‘I never want to live that era ever again. I can’t stomach waking up on a Saturday knowing we’re not the best team on the field. Jolin said on that first call, ‘I needed somebody from Michigan to step up and show they cared as much as I did.’ And then it was like the mega-powers united.”
Underwood is set to enter his sophomore season as the starter for Kyle Wittingham’s Wolverines.
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