UAE Fifa official 'solely' responsible for overturning Balogun ban

UAE Fifa official 'solely' responsible for overturning Balogun ban Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 07/13/2026 - 09:40 Mohammad al-Kamali made controversial World Cup ruling without asking 17 other members of disciplinary committee Folarin Balogun of the US is shown a red card by referee Raphael Claus, 1 July 2026 (Phil Noble/Reuters) Off An Emirati member of Fifa's disciplinary committee was "solely" responsible for overturning US footballer Folarin Balogun's red card ban, according to a report in the Times. Sent off during the Round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun was due to be suspended for the US game against Belgium. But, following communication from US officials including President Donald Trump, Fifa reversed the decision, deploying its rarely invoked Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code.