Belgium appeal against Fifa’s lifting of Folarin Balogun’s red card for US tie

• Striker may still be able to play in last-16 game in Seattle

• Trump lobbied Fifa three times over Balogun’s red card

The Folarin Balogun controversy has taken another dramatic twist with Belgium granted an appeal against the United States striker’s shock reinstatement for Monday’s last-16 tie in Seattle. There are no guarantees, however, over when the decision will be made or whether Fifa’s reasoning for lifting his suspension will be made public.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed “astonishment” on Sunday at Fifa’s decision to rescind Balogon’s one-match ban, with their manager, Rudi Garcia, comparing it to an April Fool’s Day joke. Donald Trump repeatedly lobbied Fifa to lift Balogun’s ban, with sources telling the Guardian that the US president made three calls to Fifa, starting from Wednesday, after Balogun was sent off in the USA’s 2-0 last-16 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, to ensure the change was made.