No one called lawyer Thomas Bodström when the Belgian Football Association submitted an appeal to the International Football Association (FIFA) against the decision to lift Folarin Balogun's suspension. This despite the fact that he is vice-chairman of FIFA's appeals committee.
"I walked around with my phone in my hand all day, but no one called. I was in contact with FIFA before the World Cup and made it clear that I was available, so I'm disappointed and surprised that no one contacted me," he says.
Want answers from FIFA
FIFA announced that the appeal was rejected as the Belgian Football Association was not considered a party to the case.
I can't comment on that as I haven't read the decision yet. I have contacted FIFA to get the decision and get an answer as to why I wasn't contacted.
USA's Folarin Balogun was shown a red card in the round of 16, but the subsequent suspension was lifted by FIFA. Following the decision, US President Donald Trump thanked FIFA and on Monday admitted that he had called FIFA and asked it to review the suspension.
This has led to corruption allegations against FIFA, something FIFA President Gianni Infantino later denied.
It would have been incredibly stimulating to be able to be involved in judging and showing independence. Because there is no reason for FIFA to feel any pressure from the USA, or any other country. They have the same voting rights as everyone else, an individual country has nothing to contribute.
Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino's close and good relationship is well documented, are you concerned that his conversations may still have had an impact in this case?
I can't comment on that. But in my eight years there has never been any pressure in any of our decisions and I would not have accepted it in any way in this case.
Hope it gets appealed
Do you see any risk that this alleged suspension will lead to more similar cases and that every red card will be followed by speculation about whether there will be a suspension or not?
I can't see it any other way than that lifting a suspension is an exception to the rule. Exceptions should, in general, be used very restrictively.
Thomas Bodström now hopes that the case will be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Cas.
That would have been the best thing, so that we get a precedent in how it should be judged in the future.
