The situation with Folarin Balogun’s suspended ban has been the biggest controversy of this World Cup, and it has put FIFA’s decision-making processes under the microscope.
When Donald Trump claimed he had a hand in the decision to allow the USMNT star to play against Belgium, despite receiving a red card in the previous match, it sent shockwaves through the footballing world.
Balogun’s presence wasn’t enough to swing the result in the USA’s favor, but that didn’t make it any less concerning to the media, footballing federations and fans.
And a key detail has emerged that makes the decision look even worse.
What is your reaction to Jarrell Quansah getting a two-game ban when Folarin Balogun didn't even get one?
FIFA have hit the defender with a two-match ban for his red card against Mexico…
Just one FIFA official was behind the Balogun verdict
FIFA’s disciplinary committee is comprised of 18 members from a host of different countries, and usually decisions of this nature are voted on.
In the case of the host nation’s star striker, it came down to one person.
The Times report that the committee chairman, Mohammad al-Kamali from the UAE, was solely responsible for the “unprecedented decision” to push Balogun’s ban out for a whole year.
They explain how it “went against all previous World Cup disciplinary cases”, which is where the widespread accusations of corruption come in. UEFA called it “incomprehensible and unjustifiable”.
While sole arbitration is not uncommon in this space, it’s the first time Kamali has done this, and he declined to comment on the situation when asked by The Times.
If this weren’t a host country, and if Trump hadn’t plainly admitted to calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino, maybe this could be swept under the rug. Instead, it has sparked a huge debate around fairness in the governing body’s decision-making.
The tournament is coming to a close, but this story isn’t going away any time soon. It has already done irreversible damage to Infantino’s reputation both inside the organisation and outside of it.
Disciplinary assessments are now all going to be viewed through the Balogun lens.
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