Who Is Mohammad al-Kamali? Decision to Lift Balogun’s Suspension Was Taken Solely by Committee Chairman from UAE Without Consulting Other Members

The United States has already been knocked out of the World Cup, but questions surrounding FIFA’s decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s suspension have not gone away. Fresh details have now emerged explaining how the FIFA Disciplinary Committee arrived at its ruling to overturn Balogun’s red card ahead of the match against Belgium.

The decision was made solely by committee chairman Mohammad al-Kamali of the United Arab Emirates, without consulting any of the other 17 members of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, according to The Times. The revelation has only intensified the backlash, with critics questioning both the process behind the ruling and why the suspension was overturned in the first place.

Unfair Deal

Balogun, one of the United States’ standout performers during the World Cup, ultimately made little impact as the Americans suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16.

The striker had been shown a red card for a contentious incident during the U.S. win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic one-match suspension under FIFA rules.

Kamali was the one who handed Balogun the mandatory one-match suspension before later deferring the punishment for a one-year probationary period, clearing the way for the U.S. forward to play in the quarterfinal against Belgium.

When approached by the BBC over the weekend, Kamali declined to answer questions. He kept walking with his head down as a reporter and cameraman attempted to ask about the decision.

FIFA has yet to respond publicly to The Times’ latest report.

The decision to overturn Balogun’s automatic suspension sparked widespread debate among fans and national teams. However, it was President Donald Trump who reportedly first made the intervention to lift Balogun’s suspension.

Playing the Trump Card

The controversy intensified after Trump told reporters that he had spoken with FIFA president Gianni Infantino following Balogun’s initial red card.

Trump said he asked Infantino to take another look at the red card but insisted he “didn’t tell him what to do.”

“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,” Infantino said in a statement addressing the matter.

“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.”

However, a furious Belgium team made an appeal to FIFA not to lift Balogun’s suspension, which was rejected hours before the match. Belgium later mocked the USMNT with a hilarious Trump dance on the field after winning the match.