The FIFA row has deepened after the Liberal Democrats called on the English FA and UEFA to walk away from world football’s governing body. In a sharp attack, Sir Ed Davey said FIFA was no longer serving the sport or its supporters and accused it of damaging the game’s integrity.
The party’s intervention comes after FIFA reversed a match ban for an American player following pressure linked to President Donald Trump, alongside wider criticism over high World Cup ticket prices and hydration breaks that could bring in as much as $250m (£189m) in extra advertising revenue. FIFA, UEFA and the English FA have all been asked for comment.
Tensions have also surfaced between UEFA and FIFA during the World Cup. UEFA said the decision to overturn the ban on Folarin Balogun had crossed a red line and called it unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable. FIFA has also faced scrutiny over its dynamic pricing system for tickets and its handling of Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry to the US to work at the tournament.
The Liberal Democrats said those episodes showed FIFA was “too far gone.” Sir Ed argued that football associations should join forces to build a clean, transparent body that puts fans first. He said the only way forward was a co-ordinated exit by the FA and other European governing bodies from FIFA.
