Overview
- The Royal Belgian Football Association announced on Monday that it will not support Gianni Infantino’s re-election, citing unresolved questions about the Balogun red‑card decision and what it called a lack of transparency over the FIFA Forward Enterprise.
- Belgium says FIFA temporarily suspended Folarin Balogun’s automatic one‑match ban after a reported intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, and the RBFA has asked FIFA to place the Balogun case on the FIFA Council agenda for October 15.
- Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise proposed selling a minority stake in World Cup commercial rights, reported at roughly $4.2 billion for about 20% of the asset, a plan FIFA withdrew on Aug. 1 after fierce opposition from UEFA and many national associations.
- Gianni Infantino has confirmed he will stand for re‑election in March 2027, but several confederations and national associations have withdrawn or withheld support and are taking legal and preservation steps as they prepare for the Nov. 18 nomination deadline.
- The dispute underscores a wider governance fight inside FIFA where coalition‑building will decide the outcome, since 211 member associations each hold one vote and contested removal or reform efforts require broad cross‑regional backing.