Belgium withholds support for Infantino over Balogun red-card dispute

Belgium will not support Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president unless the governing body provides satisfactory answers about the handling of the Folarin Balogun red-card case and wider governance concerns, the Belgian football federation said.

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It is essential that such cases are handled in a transparent and rigorous manner, in the interests of FIFA, the good governance and the credibility of international football, with clear safeguards for the future.

Belgium has sought an explanation of the disciplinary process involving Balogun. FIFA suspended the U.S. striker’s automatic red-card ban, allowing him to play against Belgium in their World Cup last-16 match after U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged Infantino to review the case.

The Royal Belgian Football Association said FIFA had still not adequately justified the decision or explained how similar cases would be handled in the future. “It is essential that such cases are handled in a transparent and rigorous manner, in the interests of FIFA, the good governance and the credibility of international football, with clear safeguards for the future,” it said in a statement.

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a strong, independent and sustainable model for international football

The federation asked FIFA to add the case to the agenda for the FIFA Council meeting on Oct. 15. It also raised concerns about FIFA Forward Enterprise, saying several decisions and assessments had not been sufficiently justified. Belgium previously opposed FIFA’s proposed sale of a stake in World Cup commercial rights, saying it remained committed to “a strong, independent and sustainable model for international football.”

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My team at the RBFA communicated with FIFA in a composed and constructive manner, both during and after the World Cup, in order to obtain clarity in the Balogun case. Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date.

RBFA President Pascale Van Damme said the federation had communicated with FIFA in a calm and constructive way during and after the World Cup, but its questions remained unanswered two months later. “Given the importance of transparency and clarity for all parties involved, we request the necessary explanations and, at the same time, wish to explore where improvements to the current processes are possible,” she said. The Belgian federation said it remained in close contact with UEFA over both issues.

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Given the importance of transparency and clarity for all parties involved, we request the necessary explanations and, at the same time, wish to explore where improvements to the current processes are possible.