FIFA face more backlash after 'failing to consult committee' over Folarin Balogun red card

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FIFA's

controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's one-game ban

was reportedly made solely by the chairman of its disciplinary committee - without the other 17 members being consulted.

USA

striker Balogun had been shown a straight red card during his country's 2-0 victory over

Bosnia and Herzegovina

in the round of 16, and was set to be banned for their

World Cup

quarter-final against

Belgium

.

But with less than 48 hours until kick-off, it emerged that

FIFA

had deferred Balogun's punishment, making him eligible to face Belgium. It was an unprecedented decision which sparked fierce backlash, with European football governing body

UEFA

accusing FIFA of '

crossing a red line' in a strongly-worded statement

Balogun, the USA's top goalscorer at the World Cup, started the quarter-final in Seattle as they

fell to a comprehensive 4-1 defeat

. But the fallout from the decision is still ongoing as the tournament enters its final week.

The Times

claim that only one official, specifically the chairman of FIFA's disciplinary committee, was responsible for the call. Mohammad al-Kamali of the United Arab Emirates reportedly made the decision to lift Balogun's ban, while the other 17 members of its committee weren't asked to be involved.

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It's noted that

many previous FIFA disciplinary cases were decided by a single committee member, normally the deputy chairman, Jorge Palacio of Colombia. However,

published findings of more than 100 other cases show that al-Kamali has never been the sole arbiter.

Significant cases often involve three committee members making a joint decision. It's the first time in World Cup history that a player has received a red card and not been automatically suspended for the next round.

Mirror Football

has contacted FIFA for comment. Kamali refused to comment when he was approached by the

BBC

on Saturday ahead of

England's

win against

Norway

United States

President

Donald Trump

added fuel to the fire on the eve of the game by revealing that he'd spoken to FIFA counterpart

Gianni Infantino

about the red card. Infantino insists that the phone call had no bearing on the outcome.

Should Gianni Infantino step down? Have your say in the

comments section

Infantino released a statement which red: "I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA's governance.

"FIFA's judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.

"Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the

FIFA World Cup

with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the

world

on many different issues.

"During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA's system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.

"I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

"What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times."