FIFA have 'manipulated the rules' in 'outrageous' Folarin Balogun U-turn - ex-PGMOL chief

FIFA have bent the rules to allow Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium after the USA striker's red card in the previous round.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the tournament organisers have set a dangerous precedent.

Despite being shown a straight red card, which Hackett believed was the right decision, the 24-year-old has been made available again for USA's round of 16 clash.

A decision, which has now been labelled "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable" by UEFA, has baffled fans all across the globe.

It is understood that, while Mauricio Pochettino's side didn't appeal against the decision, The White House called Gianni Infantino directly, asking for the red card to be reconsidered.

Although FIFA have denied that this had any impact, it looks like an odd decision from the outside, one that could become even more controversial should he score on Tuesday, 7 July.

Folarin Balogun controversy takes new twist

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett could not understand how FIFA were able to decide without manipulating their own rules.

"I have no worries about the fact that the USA player, despite what people say, deserved a red card. So we then have to defer to the competition rules," he said.

"And for me, I think it's pretty outrageous that they set a precedent with a red card, which normally would bring a minimum one-match ban.

"It gives it weight to give it the traction that requires as a, if you like, a preventative measure within the game. But this sends out the message to other teams.

"It's overlooked because they found some regulation somewhere in a set of papers and manipulated that regulation to say, 'Right we're going to defer that red card'."

What else did UEFA say in their statement?

UEFA certainly haven't pulled any punches over Balogun's case, stating that the decision to suspend the red card has "crossed a line" at this summer's tournament.

In the same statement, UEFA admitted that, on a case-by-case basis, rules can be "open to interpretation," before following up with, "In this case not".

FIFA have plenty of questions to answer, but it doesn't appear that those associated with the Belgium Federation will be getting them anytime soon.

Belgium have appealed against the decision, just 24 hours before kick-off, and it is impossible to tell what could happen between now and a ball being kicked.