The 2026 World Cup witnessed one of the strangest decisions ever, with the suspension of a red card for USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, and controversy still surrounds the backstory of the decision.

Balogun was shown a straight red card in the US victory over Bosnia in the round of 32 due to a strong tackle.

But FIFA's Disciplinary Committee surprised everyone by suspending the red card for one year, allowing Balogun to play the next match against Belgium in the round of 16, when his team lost 4-1.

US President Donald Trump admitted that he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to convince him to lift the punishment on the Monaco player.

FIFA justified its position by resorting to 'Article 27' of the disciplinary code, which states that the disciplinary procedure may be suspended 'in whole or in part' with a 'probation period of between one and four years imposed on the punished person.'

The new development is what journalist Martin Ziegler from the Sunday Times claimed, asserting that only one member of the 18-person disciplinary committee, the Emirati Mohammed Al Kamali, the committee chairman, made the decision to lift the suspension on Balogun without consulting anyone.

The British newspaper explained that FIFA did not comment on the question about why Al Kamali acted alone on the decision, but indicated that many disciplinary cases were decided by a single person, often the committee's vice chairman, Colombian Jorge Palacio.

Al Kamali did not immediately comment on these allegations.