Football's European governing body has blasted the decision to suspend a US striker's World Cup red-card ban, saying FIFA had "crossed a red line" after US President Donald Trump personally intervened in the case.The decision sent shock waves through the World Cup and thrust FIFA's disciplinary process into the spotlight.It prompted an angry response led by Belgium, who play the US on Tuesday AEST for a place in the quarterfinals.It also ensured that one of the tournament's biggest talking points will centre not on tactics or team selection, but on the relationship between the sport's governing body and political power.FIFA cleared US striker Folarin Balogun to play after Mr Trump personally urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the case.Folarin Balogun, who has scored three goals at the World Cup, is free to play for the US against Belgium. (Getty Images: John Dorton)"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA said in a statement on Monday, adding that it "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."The high-profile intervention by UEFA echoed criticism from some leading lights of the sport."This is our sport, not theirs," said former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.Jurgen Klopp says Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump "know nothing about football". (Getty Images: Liverpool FC/John Powell)"If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it is madness; it calls everything into question."These two people (Trump and Infantino), who know nothing about football, should have absolutely nothing to do with this."The head of the German football association said the "integrity of the competition and the credibility of FIFA are at stake." As criticism spilled over into the political sphere, the European Commissioner For Sport warned against "the weaponisation of sport for political purposes".Balogun, who has scored three goals for the US in the tournament, was sent off after a VAR review for dragging his cleats down the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic's leg and onto his foot during their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.The red card carried an automatic one-match ban, ruling Balogun out of Monday's round of 16 tie with Belgium. FIFA instead suspended the ban for a one-year probationary period without rescinding the card itself."Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice," Trump wrote on Truth Social while the White House celebrated Balogun's reinstatement in the squad with a post on X saying: "USA-USA-USA."Even former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, who stepped down in 2015 amid corruption allegations, joined the criticism."Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies," he said."If a US President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power."Reuters/ABC