Big US-Belgium World Cup match Monday night preceded by off-field drama, finger-pointing over rules

The United States men's national soccer team will try to continue its World Cup run on Monday when it takes on the Belgian national team in the Round of 16.

​The buildup to the match has been dominated by coverage of the controversial red-card penalty that took place in the U.S.'s 2-0 win Wednesday over Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the second half of the game, and after a VAR (video assistant referee) review, U.S. striker Folarin Balogun was given a red card for stepping on an opponent's leg while reaching for position.

​The red card carried an automatic one-match suspension, seemingly ruling him out of Monday's knockout match. It quickly received backlash across the sports world, including from U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

​"It’s never a red card," he said after the match. "Never.... If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand. But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you are fighting for the ball and your feet land."

​President Donald Trump weighed in on the decision, drawing a red line on the controversial red card. Along with the U.S. Soccer team reportedly submitting an appeal to FIFA. Trump placed a call on Thursday to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the call.

​“He's one of our best players, and he gave him a red card, then I started hearing that means he can't play in the next game," Trump said Monday" That's very unfair. .. So yes, I asked for a review by FIFA. I'm the one who got them to do it."

​Trump was not the biggest fan of the referee for the Wednesday match either, stating, “The referee’s call was horrible, and nobody talks about that”

​On Sunday afternoon, FIFA announced that it would allow Balogun to play, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code as the reason for the reversal. The article states: “the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

​Reversals of previous penalties are rare but not unprecedented; in fact, a recent ruling paved the way for this back-and-forth we witnessed.

Cristiano Ronaldo was allowed to play the first two games of this World Cup following a red card in the qualifying rounds of the tournament that carried a three-match suspension. Instead, a one-year probationary period was given to both Balogun and Ronaldo during which, if they commit another infraction, they will be suspended.

Belgium Head Coach Rudi Garcia was "astonished" by the decision made Sunday, stating: "I didn’t know that at the World Cup July 5 is actually April 1. It’s April Fools."

Earlier Monday morning, the Royal Belgian Football Association appealed the reversal, which FIFA rejected shortly after.

“The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision,” FIFA said in a statement.

With the red card drama finished, the United States hopes to finish business on the field and advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in 24 years. And Balogun, the team's leading scorer with three goals this tournament, is hoping to lead that charge. 

​The last time the two countries faced each other in the World Cup was in 2014, when Belgium won 2-1 in extra time. The winner of this match will face Spain, who defeated Portugal 1-0 on Monday afternoon.