Soccer
Belgium ‘cannot support’ Infantino re-election after Balogun case and FFE
The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) says it cannot support Gianni Infantino being re-elected as FIFA president, citing the Folarin Balogun case in which it remains involved.
United States striker Balogun was cleared to play in a World Cup last-16 match against Belgium in July after a one-match ban imposed for a red card in the US’ previous match was suspended by FIFA’s disciplinary committee.
US President Donald Trump admitted he had called Infantino asking for the decision to be reviewed, and despite requests from the RBFA at the time and since to seek an explanation of the process followed, none has been forthcoming.
“Important questions remain unanswered in our view,” the RBFA statement said in regard to the Balogun case.
“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. Once again, the RBFA believes that complete transparency and clear explanations are essential.”
The RBFA is pursuing the matter further, with an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) still understood to be a possibility. Belgium beat the US 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
The RBFA also cited the lack of transparency from FIFA on Infantino’s aborted plan to create a company to run the commercial operations of its tournaments, including the World Cup, and sell a stake in that company – FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) – to private investors.
“The RBFA notes that, in this matter, a number of important decisions and assessments have, to date, not been sufficiently substantiated by adequate justifications,” the statement read.
“This raises questions regarding the transparency and governance of this process. We remain in close contact with UEFA and, together, we are seeking clear answers regarding the decision-making process and the next steps. ”
UEFA has called on FIFA to conduct an independent external review, and at the same time has made applications in the American courts system for the disclosure of documents concerned with FIFA’s plans on the company.
On Sunday a FIFA spokesperson confirmed “nothing has changed” regarding Infantino’s intention to stand for re-election at the Congress in Rabat.
UEFA has pledged to work with other confederations to present the 211 national associations who make up FIFA’s membership to find a credible alternative candidate to stand against him.
Belgium have joined a number of European associations in expressing a loss of confidence in Infantino, including those of England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
