Balogun red card U-turn prompts Belgium to withdraw support for Infantino
Belgian football association says it will not back Infantino's bid for re-election, citing the World Cup controversy.
Belgium’s football federation has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s bid to run for a fourth term as FIFA president, citing his handling of a controversial red card reversal of USA player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) released a statement on Monday, saying it rued Infantino’s lack of transparency in both issues and emphasised that it could not support the FIFA president.
FIFA confirmed Infantino’s intention to stand for re-election on Sunday, saying he had never changed the plans announced earlier this year and that he will throw his name in the hat for the March 2027 vote.
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.