Trump Reportedly Called FIFA To Help Overturn The Suspension Of The U.S.’s Key Striker. It Sparked a Geopolitical Firestorm.

President Donald Trump reportedly called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to make the case that the red card suspension against the U.S.’s top striker, Folarin Balogun, should be overturned. The development has caused backlash from other institutions, including the country’s rival in Monday’s round of 16.

Axios detailed on Sunday that Trump spoke with Infantino to better understand the rationale to show Balogun the red card, which caused him to be sent off in the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina and be suspended for the next match.

The U.S. government also provided evidence that was used in the appeal process, which is run by an independent board. Trump later celebrated the development, saying in a social media post that FIFA did “what was right, and reversing a great injustice” in lifting the suspension of Balogun, who scored three goals in the competition, including earlier in the game against Bosnia.

The soccer body of Belgium, which will face the U.S. on Monday, has reportedly been allowed to appeal the decision. The Athletic noted that the appeal will be heard by a member of FIFA’s appeal committee who does not represent a federation in Europe of The Americas to avoid a conflict of interest.

Europe’s soccer body, UEFA, also reacted to the development, saying FIFA “crossed a red line” and called it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”

“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition,” UEFA added. “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. 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.” CNBC noted that it is the first time in more than 60 years of World Cup matches where FIFA has made such a decision, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code.

“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;” the body claimed.