FIFA disciplinary chair alone clears Balogun to play against Belgium
FIFA chair Mohammad al-Kamali waived U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's World Cup red-card suspension without consulting the rest of the disciplinary committee, a decision that drew criticism from UEFA and prompted a denied appeal from Belgium.
U.S. forward Folarin Balogun was allowed to play in the World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium after FIFA disciplinary chair Mohammad al-Kamali suspended his one-game ban for a red card received in the previous round. The decision was made solely by al-Kamali, without input from the 17 other members of the disciplinary committee, according to a report by the Times of London.
Balogun had been sent off for a foul in the United States' round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which under FIFA rules normally triggers an automatic suspension for the next match. FIFA did not overturn the ban but placed it on a "probationary period of one (1) year" and imposed a $40,000 fine on the player.
The ruling, issued a day before the USA-Belgium game, cited Article 27 of FIFA's disciplinary code. A later, longer statement defended the decision but gave no further details about the process.
"We have reviewed the case and have decided to suspend the sanction for a probationary period," the FIFA statement read.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he had called FIFA to request a review of the red card, a call that FIFA president Gianni Infantino acknowledged, though Infantino said the decision was made independently of any political influence.
UEFA described the move as "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable," and Belgium lodged an appeal that FIFA rejected. Belgium later defeated the United States 4-1 with Balogun on the field.
The Times noted that most significant disciplinary cases are decided by a panel of three committee members, and that al-Kamali had not previously acted as the sole arbiter in such matters.