Mohammad al Kamali, who serves as the chairman of the Fifa disciplinary committee, declined to address inquiries from the BBC regarding the inconsistent suspension rulings for two players. The controversy centers on why England’s Jarell Quansah received a two-game ban following a red card against Mexico, while United States striker Folarin Balogun saw his suspension for a similar offense waived.
Reports indicate that the decision regarding Balogun faced intense scrutiny after allegations surfaced that officials from the White House and former US President Donald Trump lobbied Fifa on his behalf. BBC sports editor Dan Roan attempted to gain clarity from Al Kamali ahead of England’s quarter-final match against Norway. Despite being asked directly about the Balogun case, potential pressure from Fifa leadership, and the rationale behind Quansah’s extra punishment, Al Kamali remained silent.
Fifa previously issued a lengthy statement claiming the Balogun verdict resulted from a review of specific evidence and incident circumstances. However, the organization failed to provide concrete details explaining why the outcome differed from that of Quansah, who was subsequently sidelined for the match against Norway.
