The governing body of European football UEFA: on Monday criticized FIFA for allowing United States forward Folarin Balogun to play on Tuesday (IST) FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium despite receiving a red card in the previous match.In a statement, UEFA called FIFA’s move an “incomprehensible and unjustified decision” and said the world body had “crossed a red line.”“Sometimes the rules are open to interpretation. In this case they are not,” said UEFA, adding “the integrity of the game is at risk and the credibility of a competition is undermined.”“A minimum automatic suspension of one match after a red card is not an optional option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be implemented. This is a principle included in the regulations, which cannot be subject to exceptions, especially in the middle of a tournament where many other players are in the same situation and often serve their suspension,” UEFA said in its statement.Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban was surprisingly suspended by FIFA on Sunday, clearing the American forward from playing in the team’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, a decision praised by the US President Donald Trump and provoked anger from the Red Devils.The Associated Press news agency later reported that US President Donald Trump personally intervened to help Balogun get the suspension lifted.Balogun, who scored three goals in the tournament for the United States, was shown a red card after stepping on the right ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic during the USA’s 2-0 win in the round of 32 on Wednesday. A red card causes an automatic one-game suspension.FIFA, however, decided to suspend the punishment.“The enforcement of the match suspension has been suspended for a trial period of one year,” FIFA announced. “If Folarin Balogun commits another offense of a similar nature and severity during the trial period, the suspension shall be revoked and the punishment shall be enforced without prejudice to any additional punishment imposed for the new offense.”The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “surprised.”“The decision is in direct conflict with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations,” it said in a statement. “To protect the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, in this FIFA World Cup and in future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”Belgium coach Rudi Garcia ridiculed FIFA’s action.“I didn’t know that in the offices of FIFA the 5th of July was the 1st of April in Europe,” said Garcia through a translator in the April Fools’ Day comparison.