The head of FIFA's disciplinary committee refused to answer any questions from the BBC on Saturday about the decision to waive a two-match ban for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun following a red card for serious foul play.
BBC sports editor Dan Roan confronted Mohammad al Kamali as he arrived for England's quarterfinal match against Norway. Roan asked repeatedly whether al Kamali had been asked by the FIFA president to suspend the ban, whether he could explain why England's Jarell Quansah received a two-match ban for a similar offense, and whether he had any comment at all on how the decision had been reported. Al Kamali did not answer any of the questions.
Balogun, 25, was sent off for serious foul play during a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina and should have received a two-game ban under standard FIFA rules. FIFA's disciplinary committee waived the ban entirely. The decision drew widespread condemnation, particularly after it emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied FIFA about the American player's sanction.
The contrast with the treatment of England's Quansah made the situation more pointed. Quansah was shown a red card in England's 3-2 win over Mexico for a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo. FIFA's disciplinary committee ruled the same type of offense warranted an additional match suspension on top of the automatic one-game ban, giving the Bayer Leverkusen player a two-match suspension in total.
FIFA released an 871-word statement following the Balogun decision, saying it was made after "considering all of the specific circumstances surrounding the incident and evidence available." The statement did not detail what specific circumstances had been taken into account.
The BBC reported the confrontation with al Kamali took place as England played Norway in a World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday. According to USA Today and other outlets covering the match, the two sides were tied 1-1 at halftime.
