The
At the heart of the dispute is the handling of the
Concerns Over Transparency and FIFA Governance
The RBFA’s refusal to back the incumbent president is not limited to the Balogun incident. The federation has also raised formal objections regarding the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, a scrapped initiative that sought to sell stakes in major competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The Belgians have cited a broader lack of transparency in how these matters have been managed.
In a formal statement released on Monday, the RBFA noted that despite their explicit requests for a clear justification of the decisions taken and details regarding future protocols, they have yet to receive a response from FIFA. RBFA president Pascale van Damme stated that her team had communicated with FIFA in a constructive manner both during and after the tournament, yet their inquiries remain unanswered two months later. Consequently, the RBFA has requested that the Balogun case be formally added to the agenda for the upcoming FIFA Council meeting in October.
Divided Support for FIFA Leadership
The announcement from Belgium arrives as the global football community remains split over the future of the FIFA presidency. While FIFA confirmed on September 6 that Infantino intends to seek a third term, the reception from continental federations has been varied. Opposition has emerged from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF, all of which have called for the president's resignation.
Conversely, Infantino continues to hold support from several key areas, including the Confederation of African Football, as well as member associations in Qatar and Mexico. Meanwhile, CONMEBOL has expressed criticism regarding the FFE plans while simultaneously advocating for unity ahead of the elections scheduled for March. The RBFA’s stance adds a new layer of complexity to the upcoming electoral process as member associations weigh their positions.
