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Belgium’s football federation has refused to back Infantino’s bid for a third term as FIFA president, citing unresolved concerns over the Folarin Balogun suspension controversy.
Gianni Infantino attends the opening game of the Women’s U20 World Cup opening match between Poland and Argentina (Picture credit: AP)
The Belgian football federation has said that it will not support Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA chief, citing the Folarin Balogun case during the recent World Cup, where the USA player’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina was overturned by the football body at Donald Trump’s request, before their match against Belgium.
The RBFA stated on Monday explaining that it wouldn’t support Infantino’s bid for a third term as FIFA president, citing the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise project and the suspension of US men’s national team striker Balogun’s red-card ban for the 2026 World Cup.
The RBFA accused FIFA of failing to provide a ‘satisfactory response’ to its questions over the decision, taken two months ago, to allow Balogun to feature against Belgium in the FIFA World Cup last 16 despite his red card in the previous round against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Belgians accused FIFA of a lack of ‘transparency’ over the Balogun case and the FFE, referring to FIFA’s scrapped plan to sell stakes in its competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
“In the ongoing case concerning Folarin Balogun’s red card at the World Cup, in which the RBFA is directly involved, important questions remain unanswered in our view,” the statement said.
“Despite our explicit requests for (1) a clear justification of the decisions taken and (2) details on how such situations will be handled in the future, we haven’t yet received any satisfactory response on this matter,” the statement added.
The RBFA has also asked FIFA to include the Balogun case on the agenda for the FIFA Council meeting in October.
“My team at the RBFA communicated with FIFA in a composed and constructive manner, both during and after the World Cup, to obtain clarity in the Balogun case. Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date,” RBFA president Pascale van Damme said.
FIFA reiterated on Sunday, September 6, that Infantino will seek a third term as president, with the continental federations divided over whether to back his re-election.
CONCACAF, the confederation for North, Central America and the Caribbean and the Asian Football Confederation have joined UEFA in calling for Infantino’s resignation. But member associations including Mexico and Qatar have pledged their support for Infantino.
Infantino also retains the backing of the Confederation of African Football. CONMEBOL, meanwhile, criticised the FFE plans but called for ‘unity’ ahead of the elections in March.
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Ask News18The Belgian football federation (RBFA) will not support Gianni Infantino’s re-election due to the Folarin Balogun red card case during the 2026 World Cup and concerns over the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise project. The RBFA cited a lack of transparency and unsatisfactory responses from FIFA regarding these issues.
Ask News18September 07, 2026, 6:30 PM IST
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