Liberal Democrats urge FA and Uefa to leave Fifa after U.S. player's ban is overturned

The Liberal Democrats called for the English FA and Uefa to withdraw from Fifa after the governing body overturned a match ban for American player Folarin Balogun following intervention from US President Donald Trump. Sir Ed Davey, the party's leader, said Fifa no longer serves the game or its supporters and should be completely dissolved.

He accused Gianni Infantino of crossing red line after red line and allowing corporate greed to exploit fans at will.

Uefa described the Balogun decision as unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable. The Liberal Democrats pointed to additional issues, including Fifa's dynamic pricing system for World Cup tickets and the denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan. Hydration breaks during matches could generate up to $250m in extra ad revenue, the party noted.

Infantino defended ticket costs as in line with other US sporting events. Anna Sabine, the party's spokesperson for culture, media and sport, said Fifa behaves more like a closed-shop cartel than a neutral global sporting body. She added that fans deserve transparency and integrity, not another four years of unchecked cronyism.

Infantino was elected Fifa president in 2016 and is widely expected to secure a fourth term extending until 2031. Niall Couper, chair of the Football Action Network, said nothing should be off the table if the governing body refuses to reform. The English FA is one of 211 full members of Fifa.

Withdrawal would bar England from competing in the World Cup.