Belgium allowed to appeal Folarin Balogun's reversed suspension

Belgium was granted the right to appeal FIFA’s reversal of Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension, just hours before the teams’ World Cup Round of 16 match. Belgium’s federation said FIFA is creating “red tape” to make the appeal “inadmissable,” after FIFA asked Belgium and U.S. Soccer to submit arguments to the appeals committee by 8 a.m. ET on Monday, July 6. A ruling could come before kickoff at 8 p.m. ET, but Belgium received no guarantee. Balogun was sent off in the U.S. win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, then had the ban overturned on Sunday after President Donald Trump asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to reconsider. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia called the timing “April Fools,” as the reversal was not public. The federation said FIFA allegedly treated its request as an appeal without providing further explanation.