Belgian FA withdraws support for Infantino over transparency

The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) announced that it will not support Gianni Infantino's candidacy for a new term as FIFA president, deploring the lack of transparency and governance shortcomings. The decision comes as Infantino confirmed yesterday that he will run again in March 2027.

Lack of transparency and governance

In the statement, the RBFA described the governance of the global body as “insufficient” and called for “total transparency”. The Belgian federation also criticised the aborted project to allocate World Cup revenues to a company open to private investors. The Italo‑Swiss president had proposed that allocation, which was later abandoned.

With this stance, Belgium aligns with Sweden, Scotland and Italy, which have already withdrawn their support for Infantino. The three European federations have voiced similar concerns about FIFA's management. These nations have highlighted the urgency of structural reforms.

“Two months after the incident, we find that our questions remain unanswered,” said the president of the Belgian federation, Pascale Van Damme. Van Damme asked FIFA to place the case of the United States player Folarin Balogun on the agenda of the Council meeting on October 15. She also reiterated the importance of including the case to ensure disciplinary consistency.

Balogun was sent off in the round‑of‑16 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but his suspension was lifted for the quarter‑final against Belgium after United States President Donald Trump intervened with Infantino. The RBFA has sought clarification on the “red card” shown to the player. The Balogun case will be discussed at the FIFA Council meeting on October 15.

Infantino confirmed yesterday that he intends to run again for the FIFA presidency in March 2027. His decision proceeds despite growing criticism from several national federations. The election is slated for the 2027 meeting.

“In line with UEFA, the RBFA expects clear answers on the decision‑making process,” said the Belgian spokesperson. The federation underscored the importance of transparent governance for the future of world football. It reiterated that structural reforms are essential for FIFA's credibility.