BRUSSELS — The Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) has lashed out at the decision of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun's red-card ban in the World Cup, after US President Donald Trump called Fifa to ask it to review the case, saying world soccer's governing body had "crossed a red line" and undermined the integrity of the game.
"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," the European football body said in a statement on Monday.
"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake, and the credibility of a competition is undermined."
Reuters has reached out to Fifa for comment. Balogun, who has scored three goals for the United States in the tournament, was sent off after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for dragging his cleats down the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic's leg and onto his foot during their win over Bosnia in the round of 32.
Trump had asked Fifa president Gianni Infantino to review Balogun's red card, which would have automatically suspended the player from Monday's round of 16 clash with Belgium.
Fifa suspended the implementation of the ban for a probationary period of one year, however, without rescinding the red card.
The stunning move has thrust Fifa's disciplinary process into the spotlight and prompted an angry response from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), which said it was "astonished" by Fifa's decision.
The Athletic reported that the RBFA has written to Fifa to lodge an appeal in the matter.
Decisions should not belong to politicians
Glen Micallef, the European Commissioner whose portfolio includes sport, said on Monday that sport decisions should belong to sport bodies and not politicians, as anger grew over US President Trump's intervention with Fifa before a World Cup match.
Micallef's comment on X, formerly Twitter, comes after Fifa suspended US striker Balogun's red-card ban, clearing him to play in the next round against Belgium, after Trump personally urged Fifa President Infantino to review the case.
"Many football fans, including former players, have already spoken out about the suspension of Balogun. As a fan, I too believe it was the wrong decision," wrote Micallef.
"This said, I have always been clear. Decisions on sporting rules and sporting matters belong to sporting bodies, not politicians. Influencing sporting decisions would undermine the autonomy of sport," he added.
