England national team coach Thomas Tuchel sharply criticized the decision to lift the suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun and took a jab at FIFA by sarcastically suggesting that Harry Kane could ask United States President Donald Trump to help cancel Jarell Quansah's red card as well.

FIFA confirmed that Balogun will be allowed to play in the United States' round-of-16 match against Belgium after invoking article 27 of its disciplinary code and overturning the one-match ban he received following his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Belgian federation responded with outrage and stated that it was "stunned" by the decision, while reports from ABC indicated that President Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino and requested a review of Balogun's punishment.

Meanwhile, England lost Jarell Quansah, who was sent off after a VAR review in the dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16.

"First, let me be clear - in my opinion this was not even a foul that warranted a red card," Tuchel said. "But VAR intervened, three VAR officials and the referee reviewed the incident and decided. So the decision was made."

Tuchel questioned how Balogun's punishment could then be overturned: "Who exactly overturns such a decision? When? And on what basis? And where does this end? It simply strikes me as odd."

England coach continued: "We just want consistency in decisions. So now will we also cancel the yellow card Declan Rice received in the first minute? We can argue about that endlessly. I also think it was not a yellow. Will we get him back? And will France get Michael Olise's yellow back, which was also unjustified?"

"I am simply asking - where does it end? I do not know the regulations well enough. I am probably the wrong person to ask, so we will wait and see what happens," he added.

When asked whether Harry Kane, who received praise from Trump after the win over Mexico, could try to persuade the United States president to intervene in Quansah's case as well, Tuchel replied with a smile: "Maybe. That is a good start."

Tuchel reiterated his criticism: "Where does it begin and where does it end? Can we cancel or can we not cancel? What exactly is happening here? That is the question I am asking, and I have no answer. Will we now also appeal every yellow card that should not have been shown? Every red? Who decides? Where is the line?"

The storm surrounding FIFA's decision also caused immense anger in Belgium. Just one day before the meeting between the two teams in the round of 16, Belgium coach Rudi Garcia launched a sharp attack against the unusual decision that allowed Balogun to be available for the American squad despite receiving a red card in the previous match.

"I did not know that in FIFA offices July 5 had turned into April 1," Garcia quipped at the start of the press conference. "I suggest referring to the statement from the Belgian federation. It is not only defending itself and not only the team, but football, its integrity and its ethics."

According to the French coach of Belgium, this is an unprecedented decision: "To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time in World Cup history that such a decision has been made," he said. "I am a coach, so I will focus on my team and the match. It does not matter to me who starts in the United States lineup. What interests me is that we win and advance to the quarterfinals."

The affair became one of the most talked-about stories of the tournament after the White House approached FIFA requesting a review of the red card. Subsequently it was decided to allow Balogun to play, a decision that drew sharp criticism from the Belgian federation.

FIFA, for its part, clarified that the decision was made within the organization's disciplinary procedures and that the disciplinary committee operates independently, so there is no basis for claims that a political factor influenced the ruling.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also admitted that the decision surprised the players but tried to lower the temperature: "Of course we were surprised, especially since the decision came one day before the match," he said. "But for us we need to beat the United States, not just Balogun. He is a good player, but the match is against the entire American team."

Courtois also revealed that the technical staff had already prepared for the possibility that Balogun would return to the squad: "We prepared for all possible strikers. The goalkeeping coaches already prepared all the data on him, including his penalty kicks. For us this changes nothing. We will be ready for whoever plays."

When asked specifically about United States President Donald Trump congratulating FIFA for "correcting an injustice," Courtois refused to be drawn into a confrontation: "I do not think we need to respond to that. We, the players and the technical staff, are preparing for the match. Everything else is a matter for the federation leadership. We are focused on playing and winning on the pitch."

Later the Belgian goalkeeper revealed that a brief discussion had taken place within the squad following the developments: "We had a five-minute conversation with the head of the federation to explain what happened, because everyone saw the reports. For us it is already behind us. We said among ourselves that we need to win the match, with Balogun or without him. In the end everything will be decided on the pitch."

Despite Courtois's attempt to return the discussion to the sporting side, it is hard to ignore the fact that the storm around Balogun has long exceeded the boundaries of football. It has become a principled confrontation over the limits of authority of football institutions, the independence of disciplinary committees and trust in FIFA decisions - and all this just hours before one of the most intriguing round-of-16 matches of the World Cup.

Norway coach Solbakken, who has no connection whatsoever to the dispute between Belgium and the United States, also sharply criticized the decision. "I have to be honest. This is a big mistake by FIFA," he said. According to him, "He received a red card, VAR determined it was red, so he should be suspended for one match." Solbakken warned that the decision creates a dangerous precedent: "What will happen next time? Will there be a committee that will also cancel the next red card? This is a bad decision for the sport." He also claimed that if the United States beats Belgium, "there will always be a question mark over this victory."