The European football governing body, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), issued a statement on Monday condemning the lifting of the ban on United States striker Folarin Balogun. The striker was shown a red card during the U.S. 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting in an automatic one-game ban for the following game.

Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute when he pressed his studs against Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle while they fought for a loose ball. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus did not show a red card at first, but reversed his decision after being called upon by the Video Assistant Referee VAR to review the play.

International football governing body FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) announced on Sunday the reversal of the ban under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, placing Balogun on a one-year probationary period instead and clearing him to play with the U.S. in its round-of-16 clash against Belgium.

According to UEFA, FIFA’s decision to lift the ban “crossed a red line.”

The European football governing body insisted that the sport “relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition” and insisted that while “sometimes rules are open to interpretation,” the automatic ban after a red card is not one of those

“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,” said the statement, adding the decision “creates a precedent” and sets the stage where “similar situations will now require equal treatment.”

“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” concludes the UEFA communiqué.

Trump’s influence

The controversial decision grew even more of a hot topic after United States president Donald Trump admitted on Monday during a press conference at the Oval Office to having called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review.

“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this,’” Trump said. “I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled [SIC].”

The U.S. president had already backed the decision through a message on his Truth Social account on Sunday

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote.

Pochettino backs his player

While the decision to revert the red card ban proves controversial, so had the call initially. At the time, many questioned whether the decision had been justified as the move could be seen as involuntary. 

Others compared it to a similar action by Argentina star Lionel Messi in the Albiceleste’s opener against Algeria, which went unpunished.

After the match, U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino said that the tackle “was never a red card” and maintained that the forward “never intended to step on his opponent.”

At the press conference ahead of the game against Belgium, Pochettino reiterated that the red card was excessive.

“Everyone who really loves the sport and trusts ethics and integrity, I think we celebrate all that decision,” Pochettino said. “We were punished enough against Bosnia Herzegovina to play with 10 men for 30 minutes [because of] a decision that was completely unfair. 99.9% of people agree it was an unfair red card.”

Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia didn’t agree, calling the decision an “April Fools” call.

The U.S. is set to take on Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday, with the match set to kick off at 9 p.m. Argentina time.

Cover image: USMNT Twitter