Belgian FA withdraws Infantino support over transparency concerns ahead of 2027 FIFA election

Belgian FA has withdrawn support for Gianni Infantino's FIFA re-election bid for the March 2027 election, citing unresolved transparency and governance concerns. They join England and Italy in opposing the incumbent, who remains the only declared candidate so far. The withdrawal specifically references Infantino's aborted plan to bring private investment into the World Cup and the controversial lifting of US forward Folarin Balogun's suspension—where reports emerged of Donald Trump phoning Infantino to intervene. RBFA president Pascale Van Damme stated two months after the Balogun incident, their questions remain unanswered, and they have formally requested FIFA place the case on the October 15 FIFA Council agenda. For Nigeria, as a FIFA member nation preparing for 2026 World Cup qualifiers, these governance debates directly impact how global competitions are structured, funded, and contested—affecting Super Eagles' qualification pathways and World Cup preparations. With election season underway, should NFF advocate for FIFA reforms addressing transparency concerns, or support Infantino's continuity for stable tournament preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup cycle?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/07/belgium-fa-says-it-wont-support-re-election-of-infantino/