FIFA president Giovanni Infantino is facing fierce pressure to step down as head of world football following an unprecedented decision to lift a World Cup match ban.
United States striker Folarin Balogun was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina and was due to miss his country’s crucial last-16 knockout match against Belgium.
But the automatic one-match ban has been postponed for a probationary year, freeing the tournament co-hosts’ top scorer to play.
The dramatic U-turn came after the US president phoned the FIFA chief directly to discuss the incident.
European football governing body UEFA has hit back with fury, claiming the decision crosses a red line and threatens the entire integrity of the World Cup.
Former England striker Wayne Rooney called the situation an absolute disgrace and argued that basic sportsmanship is being called into question.
Belgian football authorities attempted to appeal against the ruling, but the governing body threw out the application on the grounds that Belgium had no legal standing.
The US president has publicly admitted making the call to ask for a review because he did not believe the incident warranted a foul.
But former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter has heavily criticised the move, warning that red cards should be handled by rules and independent bodies rather than political phone calls.
The row has added further fuel to criticisms over the closeness between the two leaders, coming after the governing body created a unique peace prize for the politician last year.
Football fans have accused the organisation of operating like a private favour bank for world leaders and their friends.
The governing body has not yet issued a direct response to comments regarding the growing calls for its leader to step down.
Attention now turns to the upcoming Super Cup match on 12 August, where Somali referee Omar Artan has been invited to officiate by European bosses after being denied entry to the United States.
Source: The Mirror
