UEFA strongly condemned FIFA on Monday after the governing body overturned an automatic one-match suspension for United States forward Folarin Balogun ahead of a World Cup round-of-16 clash against Belgium.
European football's governing body stated that the decision to suspend the ban for a probationary period of one year crossed a red line.
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UEFA noted that an automatic one-match suspension following a red card is not a discretionary option but a principle embedded in regulations.
"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," UEFA said.
The organization added that creating such a precedent within an ongoing tournament would require equal treatment for similar instances, damaging the competition.
"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA stated.
Political Intervention Alleged
Reports confirmed that US President Donald Trump phoned FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the red card issued during the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
President Trump later thanked FIFA for "reversing a great injustice."
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter criticized the intervention, stating that independent bodies and regulations must govern disciplinary measures, not political figures.
"If a US President intervenes with the Fifa president - and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match - the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, Fifa?"
Blatter wrote.
He emphasized that football must remain free from external political pressure.
