Balogun Affair: FIFA Official Reportedly Lifted Ban Unilaterally

The Folarin Balogun case continues to spark debate at the World Cup.

The US striker received a red card in the Round of 32 and should have actually missed the subsequent Round of 16 match against Belgium. But surprisingly, the attacker was back on the field a few days later – thanks to a FIFA decision.

However, as "The Times" now reports, the lifting of the ban was reportedly decided by only a single official.

Accordingly, Mohammad al-Kamali made the decision alone. The official from the United Arab Emirates is the chairman of the world federation's Disciplinary Committee, which is responsible for such cases.

Balogun Case: New Details Revealed

After his red card in the World Cup Round of 32, Balogun was automatically suspended for the next match.

However, shortly before the Round of 16, FIFA suspended the ban for one year on probation. According to the report, the basis for this was exclusively al-Kamali's decision.

It is generally not unusual for individual members of the Disciplinary Committee to make decisions.

However, according to "The Times," this task is usually handled by the deputy chairman, Jorge Palacio from Colombia. In particularly significant cases, care is often taken to ensure that several committee members decide together.

Trump Contacted Infantino

Particularly striking: According to the report, al-Kamali has never made a decision alone in more than 100 published decisions by the Disciplinary Committee so far.

These new details are likely to further fuel discussions about a possible favoritism towards the USA.

Further speculation arose from the public announcement by US President Donald Trump after the initial ban that he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino and demanded a review of the case.