Belgium withdraws support for Infantino's FIFA re-election bid

September 7, 2026 at 04:50 PM2 min

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Belgium's football federation has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino's bid for a fourth term as FIFA president, citing his handling of a controversial red card reversal for USA player Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup and his plans to sell stakes in future world championships to private investors. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said in a statement on Monday that it could not support Infantino, citing a lack of transparency on both issues. FIFA confirmed on Sunday that Infantino intends to stand for re-election in the March 2027 vote.

Key Facts

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) announced on Monday it will not support Gianni Infantino's bid for a fourth term as FIFA president.
FIFA confirmed on Sunday that Infantino will stand for re-election in the March 2027 vote.
The RBFA cited Infantino's handling of the Folarin Balogun red card reversal and his plans to sell stakes in future World Cups to private investors as reasons for withdrawing support.
The RBFA has asked FIFA to place the Balogun case on the agenda for the next FIFA Council meeting on October 15.

Belgian Withdrawal

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) released a statement on Monday saying it rued Infantino's lack of transparency on both the Balogun case and the investment plans. The RBFA emphasised that it could not support the FIFA president. The Belgian federation said it was in close contact with UEFA over both issues and would continue pushing for greater transparency in FIFA decision-making.

Balogun Red Card Controversy

FIFA reversed USA forward Folarin Balogun's red card before the round of 16 match against Belgium, a decision welcomed by US Soccer. The RBFA challenged FIFA's decision, but its appeal was deemed inadmissible by the FIFA Appeal Committee. The Belgian association accused FIFA of a breach of regulations for not providing its justifications and said it had not yet received any satisfactory response.

FIFA Forward Enterprise

The RBFA highlighted the FIFA Forward Enterprise, a new FIFA-owned subsidiary inviting private investment into the World Cup, as one of the reasons behind its decision. The RBFA said the investment plans raised questions regarding the transparency and governance of this process. Infantino had announced the sell-off plan earlier this year but abandoned it due to mounting pressure and growing backlash.