Belgium withholds support for Gianni Infantino re-election over World Cup disciplinary and governance disputes
The Royal Belgian Football Association announced it will oppose Gianni Infantino's bid for a final FIFA term through 2031, citing an overturned red-card ban for US striker Folarin Balogun and a withdrawn $4.2 billion private equity plan.
Disciplinary dispute over World Cup suspension
The Royal Belgian Football Association announced on 7 September 2026 that it will not support Gianni Infantino in his campaign for another term as FIFA president. The federation linked its decision to two separate governance matters, beginning with FIFA's handling of an automatic suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun was sent off in a round of 32 fixture against Bosnia-Herzegovina during the World Cup in the United States, an offence that carried a mandatory one-match ban. World football's governing body deferred the suspension after United States President Donald Trump contacted Infantino directly to review the case. The ruling cleared Balogun to face Belgium in the round of 16, a contest Belgium won 4-1 following 36 hours of administrative turmoil.
Belgian federation officials stated that they reached out to FIFA during and after the tournament to seek a formal explanation for the intervention. RBFA President Pascale Van Damme confirmed that those inquiries produced no substantive response from Zurich.
Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date.
Commercial rights proposal and private equity plan
The second pillar of Belgium's opposition concerns FIFA Forward Enterprise, an initiative that proposed selling commercial stakes in the World Cup to private equity firms for $4.2 billion. Infantino and FIFA administrators designed the commercial vehicle without prior consultation with national associations, generating widespread resistance across the sport. FIFA withdrew the plan on 1 August 2026, just days after its public emergence. The RBFA noted that critical decisions and assessments connected to the venture were never sufficiently substantiated by FIFA leadership. Belgian officials stated that they remain committed to a strong, independent, and sustainable economic model for international competitions rather than private investment structures.
- Gianni Infantino takes office as FIFA president
- FIFA withdraws the proposed 4.2 billion dollar FIFA Forward Enterprise plan
- Gianni Infantino confirms bid for a final term as FIFA president
- Royal Belgian Football Association announces refusal to back Infantino
- FIFA Council meets with Balogun case requested on the agenda
- FIFA presidential election scheduled to take place
European federations challenge Infantino re-election
Infantino, who has served as FIFA president since 2016, confirmed on 6 September 2026 that he will seek a final term in office at the elective congress scheduled for March 2027. A successful campaign would keep the Swiss-Italian administrator in power until 2031, and he remains the only declared candidate. Opposition from Belgium reflects a wider rebellion across the European governing body UEFA, which has previously stated a loss of confidence in Infantino and threatened tournament boycotts. The RBFA joins national associations from England, Scotland, Sweden, and Italy in formally withdrawing support or expressing grave reservations regarding his ongoing leadership.
Formal request for FIFA Council review
The Belgian federation announced that it has formally requested the inclusion of the Balogun disciplinary case on the agenda for the next FIFA Council meeting, set for 15 October 2026. Belgian officials emphasized that international football requires transparent and rigorous processes, along with defined safeguards to prevent political interference in on-pitch disciplinary matters. The RBFA stated that it remains in close coordination with UEFA while keeping communication channels open with FIFA to improve governance standards, regulatory consistency, and long-term institutional trust.
