The head of Fifa‘s disciplinary committee, Mohammad al Kamali, did not respond to questions regarding the decision-making process behind the two-game ban issued to England defender Jarell Quansah for the World Cup 2026. This comes amidst controversy surrounding a separate decision to waive a ban for United States forward Folarin Balogun.
Quansah received a red card during England‘s 3-2 victory over Mexico following a challenge on Jesus Gallardo. The incident was classified as serious foul play, resulting in an additional match suspension beyond the automatic one-game ban from Fifa.
Contrasting disciplinary decisions
In contrast, the same disciplinary committee waived a ban for United States forward Folarin Balogun, who was also sent off for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Balogun would typically have faced a two-game ban. This decision drew criticism, particularly after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied Fifa regarding the American player’s ban.
Mohammad al Kamali was approached for comment as he arrived for England‘s quarter-final match against Norway. He was asked about the Balogun suspension, whether the Fifa president requested the ban be suspended, and why Jarell Quansah received a two-match suspension. Al Kamali did not provide any answers to these inquiries.
Fifa later released an 871-word statement concerning the Balogun decision, emphasizing that it was made after “considering all of the specific circumstances surrounding the incident and evidence available.” However, the statement did not detail the specific factors that were taken into account.
England’s lack of explanation
England manager Thomas Tuchel stated that the team has not received any explanation from Fifa regarding the upgrade of Jarell Quansah‘s red card to a two-game suspension. Quansah was dismissed after a VAR review for an an ankle-high challenge on Jesus Gallardo in the second half of the match against Mexico.
While red cards of this nature typically incur a one-game ban, Quansah‘s suspension was extended to two games due to the challenge being deemed ‘serious foul play’. Tuchel had previously expressed criticism of the officials after the match, commenting that the “referees are just not good enough.”
When asked if his post-match comments might have influenced the decision to extend Quansah‘s ban, Tuchel responded, “I don’t think so. We also have no explanation.” The English FA had been considering its options over the sanction. Sources indicated that the FA was actively involved in the process, highlighting concerns that the VAR protocol might not have been correctly followed.
The FA reportedly suggested that the fact the on-pitch referee was initially shown a still image of Quansah‘s challenge before a video replay could serve as mitigation. However, the organization acknowledged that a two-game ban was likely under Fifa‘s general disciplinary rules. Quansah, a Bayer Leverkusen player, had started two games at right-back for England in the World Cup, covering for the injured Reece James.
Despite Quansah‘s suspension, Tuchel received positive news regarding the availability of other key players. Declan Rice, Marc Guehi, and Reece James were all confirmed to be available for selection in Miami ahead of the quarter-final match against Norway. Rice had been recovering from illness, while Guehi had concerns about a hamstring issue. James participated in training after sustaining a hamstring injury during England‘s second group stage match against Ghana.
Tuchel confirmed, “We had everyone available in training. That’s the best news. We have the full choice except for our suspended player [Quansah].” England was set to play Norway in their quarter-final match in Miami on Saturday.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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