The UEFA strongly criticizes FIFA's decision to lift the sanction on the US striker: "We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.

After the uproar and controversy generated by FIFA's decision to withdraw the red card sanction against United States forward Folarin Balogun, so that he can play in the World Cup round of 16 against Belgium, UEFA has commented on the case.

"Yesterday's decision to suspend for a one-year probationary period the automatic one-match suspension following the red card expulsion of player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line. Football, like any other sport, is based on rules that are the foundation for fair, honest, and transparent competition," the organization criticized. They continued to clarify their position by adding that: "Sometimes rules are interpretable. In this case, no. An automatic minimum one-match suspension after a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be applied. It is a principle incorporated into the regulations, which cannot be subject to exceptions, much less in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and have served their suspension regularly."

They continued their clear criticism against the decision made by FIFA by commenting that: "When the certainty of the rules is no longer guaranteed by their guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Likewise, this decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require equal treatment."

UEFA concluded its statement by reflecting on football: "Football is the most beloved sport in the world because it is a beautiful sport and its trust is relied upon because it is played everywhere with the same rules. A tournament is never a completely independent tournament and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to generate positive or negative consequences for the game as a whole," they stressed, before concluding by saying: "We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable decision."