Norway's coach: "FIFA made a big mistake."

Norwegian national team coach Ståle Solbakken said on Sunday that FIFA made a "big mistake" and took a "very bad decision" by suspending the red card given to American Folarin Balogun under pressure from Donald Trump.

He stated, "It's a big mistake by FIFA," following his team's qualification for the quarter-finals in East Rutherford (New Jersey) after their victory over Brazil (2-1).

He added, "It's a very, very, very, very bad decision, and this is not good for the sport."

He reminded that Balogun "received a red card, and the VAR confirmed it was a red card; he was sent off and suspended for one match."

The forward was sent off at the end of the round of 16 against Bosnia and Herzegovina and was automatically suspended for one match.

However, the player was ultimately allowed to play in the quarter-finals against Belgium after the disciplinary committee converted the penalty into a one-match suspension with a stay of execution.

Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to AFP on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the striker's suspension.

Solbakken also saw this intervention from the U.S. president as "bad" for the United States.

He explained, "If they win against Belgium, there will always be that little suspicion, and if (Balogun) scores a goal or has a good game, Belgium will be angry." He added, "If they win, that will always linger in the background."

He continued, "And what about the next red card? Will there be calls to cancel it?"