Thierry Henry has been labeled ‘arrogant’ by fans on social media following his awkward on-air clash with Fox colleague Alexi Lalas.
While discussing USA’s World Cup elimination on the network, Henry began speaking about the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s suspended red card – which appears to have been influenced by President Donald Trump – after the co-host’s defeat to Belgium on Monday night.
The legendary former France striker said he disagreed with the initial decision to send Balogun off in the USA’s last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina but didn’t agree with FIFA overturning his one-match ban, before Lalas interrupted to ask why he had an issue with it.
‘That’s my opinion,’ Henry replied. ‘It wasn’t a red [card] but what FIFA did wasn’t right. And it fired up Belgium. It did!’
As Lalas continued to grill him, he refused to explain why he thought FIFA’s decision ‘wasn’t right’ before the pair appeared to stare each other down when host Rebecca Lowe jumped in to defuse the situation.
And after watching the tense moment on Fox, a number of fans quickly sided with the American while hitting out at Henry.
Thierry Henry (left) has been labeled ‘arrogant’ over his awkward clash with Alexi Lalas (right)
‘Henry could just answer the question,’ one user commented on X.
‘Sooooo Henry is a Fkn moron. Got it,’ said another.
A third user wrote to Lalas: ‘How you pushed back on arrogant Henry on his “feelings” which he didn’t like. Thank you for doing that!’
A fourth put: ‘I don’t really know what Thierry’s point is. He doesn’t think Balogun should’ve gotten a red card but thinks that the suspension shouldn’t have been reversed?
While a fifth concluded: ‘Thierry just made the dumbest comment of all time.’
FIFA sparked major uproar on Sunday after deciding to suspend the one-game ban previously handed to Balogun on the eve of their showdown with Belgium.
The controversial call served as a major boost to the World Cup co-hosts, as it meant that the previously banned star was available for the last-16 tie.
The matter was drawn into further dispute after it emerged that Trump had personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino, asking for the ban to be reviewed.
Though Balogun was allowed to play against Belgium, it didn’t matter in the end. The USA were on the receiving end of a 4-1 pummeling from their European counterparts.
The pair had a tense exchange over the drama surrounding USA’s Folarin Balogun (pictured)
Henry has been criticized by fans for refusing to answer Lalas’ question during the broadcast
Lalas and Henry have been working together on Fox, along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic (second from right) and host Rebecca Lowe (left)
Lalas has previously voiced support for Trump and, in April 2025, leapt to his defense over the ‘administrative error’ that deported a US citizen to an El Salvador jail.
Earlier in the day, the ex-USMNT player openly gloated about FIFA’s controversial decision on an episode of Fox News’ morning talk show ‘Fox & Friends.’
‘Belgium wants to lawyer up against the United States. Go for it, have at it, uh, knock your socks off,’ a laughing Lalas said on the show.
He continued, saying, ‘this was a surprising but obviously a welcome bit of news to wake up to.’
‘Yes, we scrambled around because it was international news, because it was, like I said, not expected. But I think what happened here is America stood up for itself.
‘The powers that be when it comes to the United States Soccer Federation did what they needed to do within the rules and regulations that exist in order to give ourselves the best possible chance of being successful.
‘And they stood up for Folarin Balogun. They stood up for this team. They stood up for this country. And it could have gone either way.’
