The decision to waive the automatic one-game suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup was made solely by Mohammad al-Kamali, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, according to a report by The Times of London.
Al-Kamali, representing the United Arab Emirates, reached the decision without input from any of the other 17 members of the committee. While the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has occasionally allowed single members to make rulings in the past, such decisions are typically handled by the deputy chairman, Jorge Palacio of Colombia. According to published findings of more than 100 previous cases, al-Kamali had never acted as the sole arbiter of a disciplinary decision prior to this instance.
Context of the Disputed Suspension
The controversy began following the United States’ Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, during which Balogun was issued a red card for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic. Under FIFA’s standard tournament regulations, a red card carries an automatic one-game suspension, which would have forced Balogun to miss the subsequent Round of 16 match against Belgium.
FIFA ultimately did not rescind the red card. Instead, the governing body cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the implementation of the match ban for a “probationary period of one (1) year.” Additionally, Balogun was issued a $40,000 fine. FIFA noted that if Balogun commits a similar infringement during this probationary year, the original suspension will be enforced.
Presidential Involvement and FIFA’s Response
President Donald Trump had contacted FIFA regarding the suspension. President Trump confirmed that he spoke with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card, though he stated he did not tell him what to do. Infantino confirmed receiving the call, stating that he speaks regularly with various heads of state and stakeholders. In a statement, Infantino insisted that FIFA’s judicial bodies remain independent and that he explained to the President that the case would be handled by the competent bodies. Despite this, Infantino is currently facing an ethics complaint regarding the matter and the potential for outside influence.
Reaction and Precedent
The decision drew immediate criticism from across the soccer world. Europe’s governing body, UEFA, issued a statement expressing “disbelief,” labeling the move “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” The Royal Belgian Football Association also expressed astonishment, stating that the decision stood in direct contradiction to competition regulations and that it would investigate all potential options for appeal. FIFA rejected a formal appeal submitted by Belgium prior to the match.
While the move was highly unusual, it is not the first time a World Cup red-card suspension has been altered. The only other known instance involved Brazil’s Garrincha, who was cleared to play in the 1962 final after being sent off in the semifinal. FIFA has also previously utilized Article 27 to manage disciplinary measures for other players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a portion of a three-match ban suspended for a one-year probationary period.
FIFA’s Transparency and Future Impact
Following the announcement, FIFA provided a brief statement defending the decision but offered no further details regarding the reasoning or the internal process used to reach it. When approached by the BBC, al-Kamali declined to answer questions regarding his role as the sole decision-maker. FIFA has not responded to requests for comment regarding the report that al-Kamali acted without the involvement of his committee colleagues.
The U.S. eventually lost the match to Belgium 4-1, with Balogun playing in the game. The incident has prompted calls for a full exploration of the decision-making process to ensure that future disciplinary actions are handled with transparency and to guard against potential external influence.
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