LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) — FIFA “crossed a red line” with the controversial decision to suspend United States (US) star Folarin Balogun’s one game ban for a year, European football’s governing body UEFA said on Monday.

FIFA’s ruling, which came after the intervention of Donald Trump, permits Balogun to play in the co-hosts’ World Cup last 16 match with Belgium later on Monday.

“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,” read UEFA’s strongly worded statement.