The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has announced it will no longer back Gianni Infantino's bid to remain FIFA president, citing unresolved concerns over transparency and governance within football's global governing body, particularly relating to the contentious handling of Folarin Balogun's suspension case.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is facing mounting resistance from national associations after FIFA confirmed on Sunday that he plans to seek a further term in next year's presidential election, one that would extend his tenure until 2031 if successful.
In a statement issued Monday, the RBFA explained that its decision was driven by what it described as a lack of clarity from FIFA on two fronts: the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme and the circumstances surrounding Balogun's disciplinary case. "The RBFA notes that, in this matter, a number of important decisions and assessments have, to date, not been sufficiently substantiated by adequate justifications," the federation said. "This raises questions regarding the transparency and governance of this process. We remain in close contact with UEFA and, together, we are seeking clear answers regarding the decision-making process and the next steps."
The FFE initiative, which envisioned selling private equity stakes in the World Cup worth $4.2 billion, was scrapped on August 1 after only days of public scrutiny, having triggered widespread condemnation from within the sport.
The Balogun affair has proven equally damaging to Infantino's standing. The controversy stemmed from a red card the forward received in a match against Bosnia & Herzegovina, which should have triggered an automatic one-match ban. However, after US President Donald Trump reportedly reached out to Infantino directly, FIFA opted to postpone enforcement of the suspension, permitting Balogun to play in a high-stakes quarter-final clash against Belgium.
That match ended in a commanding 4-1 win for Belgium over the United States, with the Belgian squad appearing galvanized by the surrounding controversy in what became a tumultuous 36-hour stretch for the tournament.
Despite the passage of time, Belgium says FIFA has yet to adequately account for its intervention in the Balogun case or explain how comparable disciplinary situations will be addressed going forward. RBFA president Pascale Van Damme voiced frustration at the lack of resolution, stating: "Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date. Given the importance of transparency and clarity for all parties involved, we request the necessary explanations and, at the same time, wish to explore where improvements to the current processes are possible, so that similar cases can be handled in a clear, consistent and efficient manner in the future."
The Belgian federation has now called for the matter to be formally placed on the agenda of the upcoming FIFA Council meeting scheduled for October 15.
Belgium's withdrawal of support adds to a growing wave of dissent against Infantino, with UEFA emerging as a vocal critic of his leadership and reportedly having previously floated the possibility of boycotting FIFA-run competitions, including the World Cup itself. Several other national federations, among them the English Football Association, have already signaled they will not endorse Infantino's push for another term.
As pressure builds ahead of next year's election, the controversies surrounding both the abandoned commercialization plan and the Balogun ruling appear likely to remain central issues in the debate over FIFA's governance and Infantino's future at the helm of the organization.
Based on reporting from Independent (Football).