The Belgian soccer federation has been granted permission to appeal FIFA’s decision to let US forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup despite a red card in his previous game, The Athletic reported. The development came on a day President Donald Trump confirmed he asked Fifa to review United States striker’s one-match suspension, adding that the ban would have left a “big stain” on the tournament had it been implemented.

The developments came ahead of Belgium’s round-of-16 clash with the United States on Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Balogun received a direct red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, a dismissal that normally carries an automatic one-game suspension. The 25-year-old, who is the United States’ leading scorer at the World Cup with three goals, was shown a red card after a VAR review and was expected to serve a one-match suspension until FIFA suspended the ban after US President Donald Trump reportedly called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask him to review the matter.

Later, Trump praised the decision in a Truth Social post, writing, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!”

Belgium exploring ‘all potential options’

The FIFA decision allows the striker to be available for selection against Belgium.

Reacting to the FIFA suspension of the one-match ban, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished” and announced it was exploring “all potential options.”

The RBFA has formally appealed to FIFA, The Athletic reported adding, that the request has been accepted. Belgium and the United States were reportedly asked to submit their arguments by 5 a.m. PT, 12 hours before the scheduled kickoff at Seattle Stadium.

Trump says he only asked Fifa to review suspension

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump confirmed that he spoke to Fifa president Gianni Infantino and asked the Swiss to review the decision because he “didn’t think it was a foul”.

“I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled,” said Trump

“I think it [the suspension] would have left a big stain. I can’t tell them what to do. I don’t believe they made the decision; I believe it was the commission that made the decision. And it was the right decision.”