FIFA had earlier decided to rescind US forward Folarin Balogun's red card and allow him to play in the match against Belgium, a decision considered by many to be the all-time biggest controversy in the World Cup's 96-year history.
Balogun was shown a red card during the US’s game against Bosnia & Herzegovina, which carried an automatic one-match suspension. Just before the Monday match, however, FIFA lifted the suspension, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows it to put Balogun on a probationary period of one year instead of sitting out a game. If, during that year, Balogun commits what the code refers to as “another infringement of a similar nature and gravity”, the striker will serve his one-game suspension.
Converting a suspension into probation is an unprecedented move that has triggered backlash across the soccer world.
In a statement on Monday, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests Balogun's eligibility. European soccer body UEFA has called FIFA’s decision unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable. “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,” the UEFA said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump took credit for getting FIFA to review Balogun's red card, but said he did not demand any outcome.
“All I did was ask for a review,” Trump said on Monday. “I didn't say, 'You have to do this.'”
