FIFA’s public perception has taken another hit during this summer’s World Cup after Donald Trump intervened to allow a US striker to face Belgium on Monday night.

Folarin Balogun was sent off during the USA’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia in the Round of 32, meaning that he would miss the next clash through suspension.

However, in an unprecedented turn of events, Balogun’s ban has been suspended by FIFA after the US president personally urged Gianni Infantino to review the case.

The decision has sparked fury across the footballing world, with Belgium issuing a strong response ahead of the Round of 16 tie.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was ‘astonished’ by the call, declaring that FIFA is going against its own rules.

In an attempt to justify the decision, FIFA stated: ‘In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a ​probationary period of one year.

‘If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed ​for the new infringement.’

In response, the RBFA said: ‘FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA ​Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction.

‘However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that ​a red card (sending-off) automatically results in ⁠a suspension for the team’s next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup.’

Trump issued his own statement on Truth Social after the news broke, which only added to the growing fury across the sport.

The 80-year-old wrote: ‘Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice’, with the White House adding: ‘USA-USA-USA.’

The decision has overshadowed a significant portion of the ongoing Round of 16, with pundits sharing their own anger and confusion while covering other knockout games.

Before England’s victory over Mexico on Sunday night, Wayne Rooney declared that ‘Infantino should be ashamed’ on the BBC.

He stated: ‘I think it’s an absolute disgrace. I really do.’

Rooney recalled a red card that he received before Euro 2012, when he was told that if he ‘went over to Switzerland and did a training session with a bunch of kids, my third game would get taken off’.

He continued: ‘I agreed to do it because I didn’t want to get a three-game ban, but I thought that was wrong.

‘For this to be suspended, they either take the red card away – which is probably the right decision – and then he can play. But to suspend it for a year? I think it’s an absolute disgrace. Infantino should be ashamed of this.

‘The sportsmanship of this game is in question here. If I’m USA’s opponent, I’d be absolutely fuming. It’s wrong in every way. If you’re an England player tonight or a Mexican player, and you get a red card, do you expect to be playing the next game? Where does it stop?’