Fifa official declines to address BBC questions on player bans
The head of Fifa's disciplinary committee has declined to respond to BBC inquiries regarding the decision-making process that resulted in England's Jarell Quansah receiving a two-match World Cup suspension, while United States striker Folarin Balogun was not subjected to the same penalty.
Defender Quansah was sent off during England's 3-2 victory over Mexico following a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo. The incident was classified as serious foul play, leading to the Bayer Leverkusen player receiving an additional match suspension on top of the automatic one-game ban imposed by Fifa.
Conversely, the same committee chose not to impose a ban on Balogun, who was sent off for serious foul play in the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Under the regulations, he was also expected to receive a two-game suspension.
This decision sparked widespread criticism, especially after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied Fifa regarding the American player's ban.
s editor Dan Roan confronted Mohammad al Kamali, chair of Fifa's disciplinary committee, as he arrived for England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway on Saturday. Roan posed several questions:
Can we ask about the Balogun suspension and whether or not you were asked by the Fifa president to suspend that ban?
Can you tell us anything about that at all?
Can you tell us anything about that at all or why Jarell Quansah was given a two-match suspension?
Can you make any comment about the way it's been portrayed or reported on?
Anything at all you can say, sir?
However, Al Kamali declined to answer any of these questions.
Following the Balogun decision, Fifa issued an 871-word statement emphasizing that the ruling was made after "considering all of the specific circumstances surrounding the incident and evidence available," though it did not specify what factors were taken into account.
Jarell Quansah was unavailable for England's World Cup quarter-final match against Norway.
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