FIFA chair alone reverses Balogun red card, raising questions

Nieuw Balogun-gate erupts as the FIFA-commissie chair alone lifts the suspension of US striker Folarin Balogun, overturning his red card in a move that has shocked observers. The decision was taken without consulting any of the other 17 members of the disciplinary panel. The British Sunday Times reported that the reversal was decided solely by the chairman, and that the rest of the 18‑member committee were not asked for input. The report highlighted the unusual concentration of authority in a single official. The independent council normally comprises eighteen members, yet it is rare for all to be consulted on a case. Apart from Mohammad Al‑Kamali, no other member participated in the decision, underscoring the solitary nature of the ruling.

Balogun consoles himself with Garcia after US loss and suspension row

No justification report was released, and the man from the Verenigde Arabische Emiraten, who attended the England‑Noorwegen quarter‑final, declined to comment. A BBC journalist approached him with questions, but he ignored the inquiry and walked away. Gianni Infantino reiterated that the FIFA‑tuchtcode is applied by autonomous judicial bodies, stating that they work independently and base decisions on the facts of each case. His comments followed a wave of international criticism after the reversal. Balogun, the Amerikaan, had received a red card in the round of 16 against Bosnië and Herzegovina, which would have automatically barred him from the subsequent match versus België. The suspension was rescinded at the last minute after a phone call from Donald Trump to Gianni Infantino, allowing him to feature in the host nation’s knockout game. © SIPA USA / BBCFolarin Balogun. The image credit and the reference to BBCFolarin underline the media attention surrounding the saga. A Column by Sjoerd Mossou noted where Blatter once tried to conceal deceit, while Gianni Infantino now deems such cover‑ups unnecessary.