The situation intensified after FIFA decided to pause Balogun’s automatic suspension, following a request from US President Donald Trump, who had urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to reassess the striker’s red card.
“We are taken aback by such an extraordinary, perplexing, and indefensible choice,” UEFA stated in a press release on Monday.
“When the certainty of regulations is no longer assured by its overseers, the integrity of the sport is compromised and the credibility of a competition is jeopardized.”
Balogun, who has netted three goals for the United States in the tournament, received a red card after a VAR review in the Round of 32 win against Bosnia for dragging his studs along the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic’s leg.
The red card resulted in an automatic one-match suspension, which would have kept the striker out of the United States’ Round of 16 matchup against Belgium.
Instead of rescinding the red card, FIFA opted to suspend the execution of the ban for a probationary period of one year, permitting Balogun to remain eligible for selection.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has also denounced the decision, stating that it was shocked by the ruling, and reports suggest that it has officially appealed to FIFA.
