FIFA commits to amending Article 27 following questions raised over the Balogun case

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) wishes to respond to today’s developments and reaffirm its position on the Balogun case following today’s FIFA Council meeting in Zurich. Beyond the discussions and regulatory amendments, our federation expects clear and concrete answers to the fundamental questions raised by this case.

The Balogun case goes far beyond a simple red card. The real issue is how decisions are made within international football, respect for the rights of those involved, and the safeguards needed to prevent similar situations from happening again.

As a member of the FIFA Council, Pascale Van Damme has once again stressed the need for clarity on this case. She recalled that international football needs strong and independent governance structures, in which rules are applied consistently, decisions are transparently justified, and everyone has the right to be heard and to defend themselves.

With this conviction, Pascale Van Damme reiterates the points she had already made in her previous communications. During the Council meeting in Zurich, she put the following three specific questions to FIFA, with the aim of obtaining the answers and guarantees that the RBFA considers essential.

The three questions to FIFA

1. President Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged intervening in the Balogun case. Can FIFA guarantee that there was no interference whatsoever, by anyone, during the disciplinary proceedings?

2. What were the exceptional circumstances surrounding the Balogun case, and what criteria were applied when implementing Article 27 in comparable cases?

3. Can FIFA guarantee that, in the future, member associations will have the right to be heard in relation to all decisions taken by FIFA’s disciplinary bodies?

FIFA emphasized that all decisions are taken independently by the disciplinary bodies.

Following these questions, FIFA also confirmed that Article 27 would be amended and that work was under way on a regulatory change. The proposed amendment will be submitted for approval at the next FIFA Council meeting.

It was also recorded that FIFA’s administration would provide further information on the specific circumstances of the Balogun case.

The RBFA considers these important steps. At the same time, Pascale Van Damme, as a member of the FIFA Council, stresses that changing the rules alone is not enough. Greater clarity on decision-making processes and the application of regulations is also essential to strengthen trust in international football.

“We have clearly expressed our concerns about good governance within FIFA and raised the questions that we believe are necessary to safeguard trust in international football.
​FIFA’s confirmation that Article 27 will be amended, following the request we had already submitted in July, is an important step. The proposed amendment, together with an explanation of the specific circumstances of the Balogun case, will be submitted in Doha.
​For us, this is not where it ends. We want not only to see the rules amended, but also to have clarity on how they are applied. Transparency, legal certainty and good governance must form the foundation of every decision taken within international football. We will continue to monitor this matter closely.”
​Pascale Van Damme, member of the FIFA Council and President of the RBFA