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Balogun red-card reversal prompts Belgium to withdraw support for Infantino

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • The Royal Belgian Football Association withdrew its support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as FIFA president.
  • It cited FIFA’s handling of the reversal of Folarin Balogun’s red card at the 2026 World Cup and plans to attract private investment to future tournaments.
  • Belgium said it remained dissatisfied with FIFA’s response and asked that the Balogun case be discussed at the next FIFA Council meeting.

Belgium’s football federation has pulled its support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as FIFA president, citing what it called a lack of transparency over two contentious issues.

The Royal Belgian Football Association, or RBFA, said it objected to FIFA’s handling of the reversal of a red card shown to United States forward Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup. The decision allowed Balogun to play in the United States’ crucial round-of-16 match against Belgium.

Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!

· Donald TrumpThe US president praised FIFA after it reversed Balogun’s red card before the knockout match.

Belgium challenged the ruling, but FIFA’s Appeal Committee deemed the appeal “inadmissible”. The RBFA said FIFA had not provided the reasons for its decision and that it had “not yet received any satisfactory response”. It has asked FIFA to place the case on the agenda for the next FIFA Council meeting on October 15.

We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow.

· US SoccerThe US football body welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play.

The federation also pointed to the FIFA Forward Enterprise, a new FIFA-owned and controlled subsidiary that is inviting private investment in the World Cup. The RBFA said the plan raised “questions regarding the transparency and governance of this process”. It said such matters needed to be handled “in a transparent and rigorous manner, in the interests of FIFA, good governance and the credibility of international football, with clear safeguards for the future”.

FIFA confirmed Infantino’s intention to seek re-election in March 2027, saying he had not changed plans announced earlier this year. He has faced opposition from several national associations and regional confederations since proposing the investment plan, which he later abandoned amid pressure and backlash.

not yet received any satisfactory response

· Royal Belgian Football AssociationThe RBFA described its continuing dissatisfaction with FIFA’s explanation of the appeal decision.

The red-card decision drew public support from US President Donald Trump, who wrote, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” US Soccer also welcomed the ruling, saying it was “pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow”. The RBFA said it was in close contact with UEFA and would continue pressing for greater transparency in FIFA decision-making.

questions regarding the transparency and governance of this process

· Royal Belgian Football AssociationThe federation raised concerns about FIFA’s plan to invite private investment in future World Cups.
About this summary

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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