The U.S. Men’s National Team’s Copa América defeat to Panama was marked by numerous low points, with the most significant being Tim Weah’s red card.
In the 18th minute of the match, the Juventus winger was sent off for striking Panama defender Roderick Miller in the head, leaving the USMNT to play with ten men for the majority of the game. The incident contributed to the 2-1 loss, putting the team at risk of an early exit from the tournament.
Weah faced considerable criticism during and after the match. Head coach Gregg Berhalter described Weah’s action as a “silly decision” and also expressed frustration with the referees. Tyler Adams, a teammate, mentioned that Weah apologized to the team after the game. Weah later issued a public apology on his Instagram story:
Today, I let my team and my country down.
A moment of frustration led to an irreversible consequence, and for that, I am deeply sorry to my teammates, coaches, family and our fans.
Moving forward, I am committed to learning from this experience, not allowing an opponent to provoke me, and working to regain the trust and respect of my team and supporters.
No matter what I will always fight for my team and my country till the day
I’m no longer needed or capable to !! sincerely apologize to everyone My love for this team goes beyond just football and I’m so sad and angry at myself for putting my brothers through what they went through tonight.
The match was the 24-year-old Weah’s 41st appearance for the USMNT. Despite this setback, he remains a crucial player for the team’s future, playing alongside Christian Pulisic on the wing. The USMNT now faces a must-win match against group favorite Uruguay on Monday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
