FIFA faced intense backlash when it suspended American striker Folarin Balogun for one match ahead of the team’s last-16 match against Belgium after receiving a red card in the previous match.
Folarin Balogun controversially allowed to play despite red card (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend player Folarin Balogun for one match was reportedly made solely by the head of the Disciplinary Committee without consulting the other 17 committee members. American striker Balogun was shown a straight red card during his country’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 16 and was scheduled to be suspended for the World Cup quarter-final against Belgium.
However, with less than 48 hours to go until kick-off, it was revealed that FIFA had postponed Balogun’s punishment and made him eligible to play against Belgium. This was an unprecedented decision and sparked a fierce backlash, with European soccer governing body UEFA condemning FIFA in strong terms, saying it had “crossed a line that should not be crossed.”
Balogun, the United States’ leading scorer at the World Cup, started in the quarterfinals in Seattle, but lost 4-1. However, the fallout from this decision is still being felt as the tournament enters its final week.
The Times claims that only one official was responsible for the report, specifically the head of FIFA’s disciplinary committee. Mohammad Al Kamali of the United Arab Emirates reportedly decided to lift Balogun’s suspension, but the other 17 members of the committee were not asked to be involved.
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It is noted that many of the FIFA disciplinary cases to date have been decided by a single committee member, usually Colombian vice president Jorge Palacio. However, published findings on more than 100 other cases indicate that al-Qamali was not the sole arbiter.
In important cases, three commissioners often make joint decisions. This is the first time in World Cup history that a player received a red card but was not automatically suspended from the next round.
Mirror Football has contacted FIFA for comment. Kamali declined to comment when interviewed by the BBC ahead of England’s win over Norway on Saturday.
US President Donald Trump added fuel to the fire by revealing that he spoke with FIFA’s Gianni Infantino about the red card the night before the match. Infantino maintains the phone call had no bearing on the outcome.
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Gianni Infantino faces relentless criticism (Image: GSI/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Infantino said in a statement: “I have read the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee regarding the suspension of Folarin Balogun and would like to reiterate the fundamental principles of FIFA governance.”
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football and this must be respected at all times.”
“Yes, I regularly discuss issues related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this subject I received a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, soccer officials, and business executives around the world on a variety of issues.
“During our conversation, I explained that legal proceedings involving FIFA’s independent judiciary were underway and that the matter would be decided in due course by the competent authority. That is how the FIFA system works and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”
“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they come out. Sometimes I am surprised by the decisions. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don’t.
“But what I always do is respect the autonomy of those decisions and the bodies that make them, whether we personally like the decisions or not. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what will always protect the integrity of our competition and the credibility of FIFA.”
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