European football’s governing body has also waded into the debate, issuing a scathing critique of the precedent set by the USMNT reprieve. While Belgium ultimately defeated the USA 4-1 on the pitch, UEFA believes the damage to the tournament’s integrity is already done.
In a strongly-worded statement, UEFA said: “When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition. We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”