​A single FIFA disciplinary official reportedly made the decision to reinstate Folarin Balogun after the American forward received a red card in the round of 32, according to a report published by the Times of London on Sunday. The claim of a unilateral ruling added a layer of drama to President Donald Trump’s assertion that he asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the matter, while Infantino maintained that the decision on whether Balogun’s suspension would be lifted would come from “independent judicial bodies.” The Times suggested that the sole arbiter in the case was Mohammad Al Kamali, the FIFA disciplinary committee chair from the United Arab Emirates. Al Kamali reportedly declined to comment to the Times, but the idea of one person overseeing such a high-stakes case to the exclusion of the committee’s 17 other members naturally raises questions.
European and Belgian football authorities criticized FIFA for allowing Balogun to play, while Infantino faced accusations of yielding to what some described as undue influence from Trump. The report notes that Balogun’s reinstatement came despite Belgium’s 4-1 victory over the United States, a result that would have potentially altered the relevance of the reinstatement had it stood. Nonetheless, the new allegations cast doubt on the transparency of FIFA’s disciplinary process under Infantino.
The Times pointed out that although it is not unprecedented for a disciplinary matter to be handled by a single official, high-stakes cases typically involve input from multiple officials. The newspaper also examined 100 cases in which Al Kamali did not serve as the lone arbiter, suggesting that the recent decision diverged from many prior proceedings. HuffPost has sought comment from FIFA on the matter.
The controversy comes as global attention remains on how football’s governance handles disciplinary actions, especially in situations connected to political influence. The broader discourse touches on the balance between swift, decisive rulings and the assurances of collective, transparent decision-making within governing bodies. Balogun’s reinstatement, whatever the ultimate implications, has already become a focal point in debates about fairness and process in FIFA’s handling of disciplinary cases during the tournament.