The United States Men's National Team on Monday decided to start its lead striker Folarin Balogun in the round of 16 match against Belgium, despite drama off the field related to a controversial red-card penalty the player received in a match last week.

Belgium took an early lead in Monday's game in Seattle, scoring one point against the U.S. just minutes into the game, according to the Athletic. The U.S. later scored one point, but Belgium quickly restored its lead with another point.

Balogun's entrance into the match comes after he received a red card in the second half of last week's game against Bosnia and Herzegovina following a VAR (video assistant referee) review. 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.

​President Donald Trump also 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.

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.