Tuesday, September 8, 2026 -The Belgian football association will not support Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, it said on Monday, citing concerns over transparency and governance within world football’s governing body.
Belgium joins a growing list of national associations,
including England and Italy, that have withdrawn their backing for Infantino
ahead of the FIFA presidential election in March 2027.
FIFA confirmed on Sunday that Infantino would seek another
term as president. He is currently the only declared candidate.
The Royal Belgian FA (RBFA) said it was “seeking clear
answers regarding the decision-making process and the next steps” surrounding
Infantino’s aborted plan to bring private investment into the World Cup.
The Belgians also called for “complete transparency and
clear explanations” over the suspension of US forward Folarin Balogun’s ban
during the recent World Cup. Balogun’s red card in the last-32 win over Bosnia
and Herzegovina resulted in an automatic suspension for the match with Belgium
in the next round.
But FIFA stepped in and lifted his ban, leading to
widespread condemnation, especially when it emerged that US President Donald
Trump had intervened by phoning Infantino.
“Two months
after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date,” said
RBFA president Pascale Van Damme.
The Belgian FA has formally requested that FIFA place the
Balogun case on the agenda of the next FIFA Council meeting on October 15.
In recent weeks, football’s governing bodies have become
increasingly divided over FIFA’s leadership, with critics accusing Infantino of
developing plans for a new commercial structure involving private investors
without sufficient consultation.
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