The chair of FIFA’s disciplinary committee, Mohammad al Kamali, refused to answer BBC questions about the decision-making process that led to England defender Jarell Quansah being banned for two World Cup games, according to Yahoo Sports. Quansah was sent off in England’s 3-2 win over Mexico for a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo that was classed as serious foul play, and FIFA added an extra match to the automatic one-game suspension.
The same committee waived a two-game ban for United States forward Folarin Balogun after he was sent off for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a decision that drew condemnation after reports that US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied FIFA. Al Kamali did not respond when confronted as he arrived for England’s quarter-final against Norway on Saturday, and Quansah was unavailable for that match.