FIFA under fire for revoking U.S. red card after Trump call

European soccer body UEFA has strongly criticized FIFA for what it calls an "incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision" to let United States forward Folarin Balogun play in the World Cup against Belgium, despite receiving a red card in his previous match. UEFA stated that FIFA "crossed a red line" by not enforcing Balogun's mandatory one-game ban after the world soccer body reportedly came under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.

“

FIFA crossed a red line.

FIFA's ruling on Sunday to defer Balogun's ban for one year of probation deviated significantly from traditional soccer rules and has drawn widespread global criticism. Norway coach Ståle Solbakken called it a "bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup." UEFA, whose member federations include Belgium, emphasized that "sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not."

“

It’s a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup.

"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," UEFA declared in a statement. The European soccer body, which has frequently clashed with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, expressed its "disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision." Infantino previously served as UEFA's general secretary before leading FIFA.

“

Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not.

The Belgian soccer federation was reportedly preparing an appeal in Seattle to challenge the ruling before a FIFA-appointed appeals judge. Balogun was sent off for planting his cleated foot on the ankle of Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during a 2-0 U.S. victory. Such challenges typically result in a red card, and Balogun could have faced a two-game ban for serious foul play. The decision has raised concerns about executive intervention in the independence of FIFA's judicial bodies, especially following other instances where star players received lenient punishments.

“

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.