UEFA says FIFA 'crossed a red line' with Balogun red card U-turn, Belgium to challenge his eligibility

July 6 : European soccer body UEFA lashed out on Monday at FIFA's decision to suspend U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's World Cup red-card ban, saying it had "crossed a red line" after President Donald Trump personally intervened in the case.

FIFA's decision has led to widespread criticism and put its disciplinary process in the spotlight, prompting the Belgians, who play the U.S. on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals to say they were challenging the player's eligibility for the match.

The affair also ensures that one of the tournament's biggest talking points will centre not on tactics or team selection but on the relations between the sport's governing body and political power.

Trump, who personally urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review Balogun's case, said on Monday that it was unfair for FIFA to take out one of the U.S.' best players.  

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA said on Monday, adding that "Yesterday's decision ... crossed a red line". 

"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."

Trump defended his role in the matter on Monday, telling reporters at the White House: "All I did, I asked for a review, because I didn't think it was a foul." 

ELIGIBILITY CHALLENGE

The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was "astonished" by FIFA's decision to declare Balogun eligible to play and would challenge it.

"The RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter," it said in a statement on Monday. "It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player's eligibility for the upcoming