​The Times of London reported on Sunday that the controversial move to waive U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension in the World Cup was decided solely by FIFA’s disciplinary chair, Mohammad al-Kamali, with no input from the 17 other members of his committee. Balogun, who was the USA’s leading scorer, had been sent off for a foul in the Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under FIFA rules, a red card automatically carries a one-game suspension, which Balogun would have served in the Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
In a historic departure from precedent, Balogun was permitted to play despite long-standing expectations that a red-card sanction could not be overturned during the World Cup. FIFA did not rescind the ban; instead, it suspended the suspension for a probationary period of one year and levied a $40,000 fine on Balogun. This marked the first time in World Cup history that a player slated for a red-card suspension was allowed to participate. The ruling was issued a day before the USA faced Belgium, with FIFA issuing a brief statement citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code. A subsequent, more detailed statement defended the decision but did not disclose further details about the rationale or the process that led to it.
On the day of the USA-Belgium match, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged reports that he had called FIFA to request a review of the red card. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the call but insisted that the decision did not arise from Trump’s influence. Trump later thanked FIFA on social media after Balogun’s suspension was rescinded.
The decision drew swift international criticism. UEFA, Europe’s governing body, voiced “disbelief” in a statement calling the ruling unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable. Belgium filed an appeal, which FIFA subsequently rejected. Despite the controversy, Balogun played as Belgium defeated the United States 4-1.
According to The Times, in several past FIFA disciplinary cases the decisions were typically made by a trio of committee members, with the deputy chairman often serving as one of them. The Times’ analysis indicates Kamali, who hails from the United Arab Emirates, had never previously issued a sole, one-member decision in the more than 100 cases examined. The coverage notes that more significant disciplinary matters are commonly decided by a three-member panel rather than a single administrator.
FIFA did not respond to the Times’ request for comment about Kamali’s lone decision in this case. Kamali also declined to answer multiple questions from the BBC when approached about Balogun’s situation on Saturday. The broader narrative surrounding the Balogun case continues to fuel debate about consistency, governance, and transparency within FIFA’s disciplinary processes, especially when a World Cup match outcome and progression could hinge on a moment of on-field discipline and its subsequent governance.