Belgium turns Folarin Balogun red-card row into fresh blow to Gianni Infantino’s FIFA re-election bid

The Belgian Football Association has made the controversial Folarin Balogun red-card decision a central reason for withholding its support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for a third term as FIFA president, deepening the divisions within world football ahead of the March election.

The RBFA announced on Monday that it would not support Infantino, pointing to unresolved concerns over both the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project and FIFA’s handling of Balogun’s suspension at the 2026 World Cup.

Belgium is particularly aggrieved by the decision to make Balogun available for the last-16 meeting between the United States and Belgium, despite the striker receiving a straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round.

The RBFA said it had repeatedly sought an explanation from FIFA but had yet to receive what it considered an adequate response.

“In the ongoing case concerning Folarin Balogun’s red card at the World Cup, in which the RBFA is directly involved, important questions remain unanswered in our view,” the RBFA statement read. “Despite our explicit requests for (1) a clear justification of the decisions taken and (2) details on how such situations will be handled in the future, we have not yet received any satisfactory response on this matter.”

Belgium demands answers over Balogun

The dispute centres on FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun’s ban, allowing the United States striker to play against Belgium in the knockout stages.

Balogun, 25, had been sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but became eligible for the clash with Belgium following an intervention involving U.S. President Donald Trump, government officials, U.S. Soccer and a legal team.

Belgium formally challenged FIFA’s decision, but its appeal was rejected by FIFA’s appeal committee.

The RBFA has since maintained pressure on football’s governing body, with president Pascale Van Damme revealing that the federation’s efforts to obtain clarity have so far produced no satisfactory answers.

“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,” RBFA president Pascale Van Damme added. “Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date.”

Belgium have now asked for the matter to be placed on the agenda of the FIFA Council’s October meeting, signalling that the federation intends to continue challenging the decision.

Balogun row adds to FIFA tensions

The controversy has become part of a broader dispute between FIFA and several European football authorities over Infantino’s leadership.

The RBFA also cited the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which involved plans for FIFA to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

Belgium accused FIFA of a lack of transparency over both issues, strengthening its decision not to support Infantino when FIFA members vote on his future.

The Belgian stance follows UEFA’s increasingly public opposition to Infantino. European football’s governing body has called for the FIFA president to resign over the FFE plans and has pursued several legal filings in the United States in an effort to challenge the project.

Infantino faces divided football world

Infantino’s re-election campaign is therefore unfolding against a backdrop of growing divisions among FIFA’s continental confederations.

Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation have joined UEFA in calling for the 56-year-old to step down, although several influential national associations within those confederations, including Mexico and Qatar, have backed his continued leadership.

Infantino retains strong support from the Confederation of African Football, while CONMEBOL has criticised the FFE proposal but called for unity ahead of the election.

With Belgium now formally withholding its backing, the Balogun affair has developed beyond a disputed disciplinary decision. For the RBFA, it has become a test of FIFA’s transparency, accountability and decision-making – and a major factor in determining where its vote will go when Infantino seeks another term.