The Belgian Football Association has announced that it will not support Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, citing concerns over transparency and governance within world football’s governing body.
Belgium is the latest national football association to distance itself from Infantino ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027. England and Italy are among other associations that have also withdrawn their support.
FIFA confirmed on Sunday that Infantino intends to seek another term as president. He is currently the only declared candidate.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it wants clearer explanations regarding FIFA’s decision-making processes, particularly following Infantino’s abandoned proposal to attract private investment into the World Cup.
The Belgian FA also demanded greater transparency over FIFA’s decision to suspend the ban imposed on United States forward Folarin Balogun during the recent World Cup.
Balogun was shown a red card during the United States’ last-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which ordinarily would have ruled him out of the team’s subsequent match against Belgium.
However, FIFA intervened and lifted the suspension, a decision that generated significant criticism after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had contacted Infantino about the matter.
“Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date,” RBFA president Pascale Van Damme said.
The Belgian FA has formally asked FIFA to include the Balogun case on the agenda for the next FIFA Council meeting, scheduled for October 15.
The dispute comes amid growing divisions among football associations over Infantino’s leadership of FIFA.
Critics have questioned the governing body’s plans for a new commercial structure involving private investors, arguing that the proposals were developed without adequate consultation with member associations.
Infantino eventually abandoned the proposal following mounting opposition, but the decision has not fully eased concerns among several national football bodies.
With the 2027 FIFA presidential election approaching, Infantino now faces increasing scrutiny over his leadership and FIFA’s governance practices.
