USMNT defender Chris Richards reacts to Folarin Balogun's red card suspension being lifted

Aleksander Čeferin's UEFA has published a scathing statement directed towards Gianni Infantino's FIFA after their suspension of U.S. Men's National Team forward Folarin Balogun's ban -Credit:Nicolò Campo, LightRocket via Getty Images

UEFA has issued a strongly worded statement condemning FIFA's 'unjustifiable' ruling to overturn U.S. Men's National Team star Folarin Balogun's red card and permit him to feature in their Round of 16 game against Belgium. Having been dismissed for serious foul play against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, former Arsenal forward Balogun had been set to sit out Monday's game in Seattle.

However, FIFA controversially invoked a little-known clause in its regulations to suspend Balogun's ban for one year in a significant boost for the co-hosts, as the 25-year-old is their leading scorer at the World Cup. It has also come to light that United States President Donald Trump contacted FIFA's Gianni Infantino in a bid to have the red card overturned - although FIFA insists the call had no bearing on their decision.

Infantino and FIFA have faced a fierce backlash, with the Belgian FA confirming in a statement that they are 'investigating all potential options.' UEFA have now delivered their verdict, declaring that the decision 'crossed a red line' and labeling it 'unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,' as per The Mirror.

Australian soccer fans' anti-Donald Trump chant could spark World Cup controversy

Kylian Mbappe responds to 'despicable' Paraguayan senator for 'brazen racism'

U.S. President Donald Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of Balogun's ban being suspended -Credit:Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Their statement read: "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.

"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. 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. 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.

To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE

"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."

It has long been suspected that the two most influential governing bodies in the sport are locked in a battle for control of the game.

Speaking following FIFA's announcement, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia likened the ruling to an April Fool's joke. Garcia, whose side narrowly beat Senegal 3-2 in the previous round, remarked: "I didn't know that July 5 was equal to April 1 at FIFA.

"I think we should refer to the [statement] of my federation, the Belgian federation. I think a lot of things are in it. The federation does not defend itself, it does not defend the national team - it defends football in general. It defends its integrity. It defends its ethics."