Fifa has come under fire after overturning a red card suspension for USA striker Folarin Balogun, a decision widely seen as bowing to pressure from US President Donald Trump. The ban was lifted ahead of the World Cup last-16 match against Belgium, sparking condemnation from European football bodies and politicians.
Uefa accused Fifa of crossing 'a red line' and undermining the integrity of the competition. In a statement, Uefa called the decision 'unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable', noting that the automatic one-match suspension for a red card is a fundamental rule that cannot be subject to exceptions, especially mid-tournament.
The Royal Belgian Football Association expressed 'astonishment', with national team manager Rudi Garcia comparing the move to an April Fools' joke. The German Football Association questioned whether political interference was at play, stating that Fifa's credibility is at stake.
Trump confirmed his involvement, telling a press conference he had asked for a review, claiming the incident was not a foul. The New York Times reported that lawyers with ties to Trump were engaged by US Soccer to challenge the ban, invoking national rights and threatening an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel also criticised the decision, asking where it would end and calling for consistency. Fifa had previously stated that US Soccer had no right of appeal but invoked article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the ban for a 12-month probationary period.
