WASHINGTON, July 07 (Reuters): The United States tumbled out of the World Cup on Tuesday (as per BST), beaten emphatically by Belgium in a match overshadowed by allegations of political interference by US President Donald Trump on behalf of the co-hosts.
US leading goalscorer Folarin Balogun was allowed to play in the match after Trump asked the head of football's governing body, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, to review a red-card ban on the player.
FIFA then suspended the ban so Balogun could play, which Trump called a "brilliant decision", but sparked fury from the Belgium team, an international uproar and turned the incident into the main talking point of the tournament.
Despite the uproar, Balogun's appearance and the support of a raucous home crowd in the Seattle stadium were not enough to keep the United States from a 4-1 trouncing at the hands of the Belgian side, who now make their way to the quarter-finals.
The reversal of Balogun's ban drew condemnation from European football body UEFA, the Royal Belgian Football Association and others, with critics arguing FIFA had undermined confidence in its own disciplinary system.
Defending the decision, Infantino said FIFA's judicial bodies had operated "independently and autonomously" and that he had told Trump the Balogun case was subject to an ongoing legal process.
Belgium had challenged Balogun's eligibility hours before kickoff, but FIFA rejected the appeal and the striker started the match, although he made little impact.
Belgian striker Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, the first inside 10 minutes, to silence the "U-S-A!" chants from the partisan crowd that filled the stadium with the red, white and blue colours of their national flag.
England, meanwhile, who had defender Jarell Quansah sent ?off in Sunday's last-16 win over Mexico, are now considering their options regarding any appeal over that red card given the Balogun case, a source familiar with the matter said. British lawmakers also appealed to FIFA for consistency.
"He (Balogun) didn't do anything wrong and he is our best player," Trump told reporters at the Oval Office on Monday. "When they take your best player and say 'You can't play' it's very unfair."
"I think they (FIFA) made a really brilliant decision," Trump said. "I asked for a review. If they would not allow a top player to play I think it (the World Cup) would have had a big stain. I related that feeling."
Trump also questioned the quality of refereeing by Brazil's Raphael Claus, who had sent Balogun off, saying he was "a little bit suspect if you check his past." He did not elaborate. The Brazilian FA rejected any suggestion regarding the integrity of the referee.
"He is an exemplary professional, whose career is amply supported by technical assessments, consistent performance and the trust placed in him by the leading national and international competitions," it said.
FIFA said Claus was not available for comment, in line with its policy of referees not speaking to the media during the tournament.
Infantino later confirmed the call from Trump but said he had explained that FIFA's judicial bodies operated independently.
"During our conversation I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies," Infantino said in a statement. "That is how FIFA's system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold."
FIFA's disciplinary committee said it had the authority to suspend the one-match ban. It also fined Balogun $40,000 for coming onto the pitch following the match to celebrate with teammates after his dismissal.
"Suspending the effects of a ?red card based on an explicit provision of the applicable regulations is a much more balanced measure," the chairperson of FIFA's disciplinary committee said in a statement.
For UEFA, the decision to suspend the ban was simply wrong.
"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA said. "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."
Several national football federations have been equally critical of FIFA's decision.
"The decision in the Balogun case is incomprehensible to the Swiss Football Association (SFA), regardless of how it came about," said the Swiss
FA, whose team are in the World Cup round
of 16.
"This decision raises questions and creates uncertainty, particularly regarding the authority of referees' decisions, especially when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is involved," it said.
The Royal Belgian Football Association challenged FIFA's decision to declare Balogun eligible to play on Tuesday (as per BST).
"The request was ?rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision," FIFA said in a statement.
High-profile criticism also came from big names in the sport.
"This is our sport, not theirs," said former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who is in talks to become the new Germany coach.
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