Belgians mocked Trump VIDEO

Balogun (25) was almost certain to miss the match in Seattle after receiving a straight red card in the previous round for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović.

However, on Sunday, FIFA decided to suspend the automatic one-match ban for a period of 12 months, a decision that sparked numerous reactions and criticism.

UEFA, the Belgian Football Association, and England manager Thomas Tuchel publicly opposed the decision.

A day later, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that he had asked FIFA to review Balogun's suspension, saying that enforcing the ban would leave a "major stain" on the tournament.

However, despite Balogun being cleared to play and starting the match, Belgium comfortably defeated one of the tournament hosts 4-1.

"A lot was happening off the pitch over the past two days. There was a feeling of injustice within the team, and we were determined to respond on the field," Raskin said.

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans believes the entire situation provided his team with extra motivation.

"We told each other that the response had to come on the pitch. That's exactly what we did," Tielemans said.

Belgians mocked Trump

He added that he believes the decision was not made by FIFA itself, but by the relevant disciplinary committee.

"I think the suspension would have left a major stain. I can't tell them what they should do. I believe the committee made the decision, and I think it was the right one," the U.S. president concluded.

Belgians protested, UEFA warns of a dangerous precedent

Before the match, the Belgian Football Association said it was "shocked" by FIFA's decision to suspend Balogun's ban and informed the U.S. Soccer Federation that it was challenging the American forward's right to play.

Belgium filed an appeal, but FIFA's committee ruled that Belgium was not an interested party in the proceedings, as it had not been involved in the original disciplinary decision and was only the United States' next opponent.

England manager Thomas Tuchel warned that such a decision sets a dangerous precedent, while UEFA said that an intervention effectively removing a suspension during a major tournament had "crossed a red line."

"The question is where the line is drawn. I don't have an answer to that," Tuchel said.

Interestingly, out of 189 red cards shown in World Cup history, only one player had previously avoided a suspension — legendary Brazilian forward Garrincha in 1962, at a time when automatic bans for dismissals had not yet been introduced.