July 6 (UPI) — UEFA joined a cast critical of FIFA’s decision to suspend U.S. player Folarin Balogun’s red card, saying Monday that the move “crossed a red line.”

The governing body of European soccer cited concerns about the “integrity of the game” and the “credibility of competition.” FIFA announced Sunday that Balogun would be available for the United States’ Round of 16 game with Belgium.

Balogun received his red card in the second half of a Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an ejection and automatic one-game suspension for the next round.

But on Sunday, FIFA said that the ban would be suspended for a “probationary period of one year.” Belgium and players and coaches from other teams also criticized that revised ruling.

“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,” UEFA said.

“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes, rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.

“It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.”

More than a dozen red cards have been issued so far at the 2026 World Cup, including one for Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy in a 0-0 draw with Iran on June 21 in Inglewood, Calif. Ngoy was suspended for Belgium’s final group stage match as a result.

The Royal Belgian Football Association issued a statement Sunday saying it was “astonished” about Balogun’s clearance.

“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. “Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.

“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.

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

Belgium manager Rudi Garica told reporters Sunday that he thought it was an “April Fool’s Day” joke when he first heard of Balogun’s clearance. Norway coach Stale Solbakken and England coach Thomas Tuchel were among others to question the decision.

The reversal of Balogun’s World Cup suspension marked the first time since the 1962 World Cup that FIFA has nullified a red card ban during the tournament.

Sources told The Athletic, USA Today and ABC News that U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino last week to request a review of Balogun’s red card suspension. Trump thanked the FIFA through a message Sunday on his Truth Social platform, saying the organization reversed “a great injustice.”

England defender Jarell Quansah received a red card in the 54th minute of a 3-2 win over Mexico in the Round of 16 on Sunday in Mexico City. He is now ineligible for the Three Lions’ quarterfinal meeting with Norway, but Tuchel joked that maybe captain Harry Kane could ask Trump for help in appealing that ban.

Tuchel said he didn’t believe Balogun should have received the red card for his challenge on Bosnian center back Tarik Muharemovic,, but questioned the reversal of the ban.

“Who overturns this decision and when and on what grounds?” Tuchel asked. “And how far does this go now? It’s strange for me. We just want to have consistency in the decisions.”

Balogun and the No. 16 Americans will take on No. 9 Belgium at 8 p.m. EDT Monday in Seattle. The winner will advance to a quarterfinal, where they will meet No. 3 Spain or No. 7 Portugal on Friday in Inglewood. Spain and Portugal are to meet in the Round of 16 at 3 p.m. Monday in Arlington, Texas.

No. 4 England willplay No. 19 Norway in a quarterfinal Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.