The beautiful game's integrity has been trampled on by FIFA's reckless actions, leaving the Liberal Democrats screaming for a clean break. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, is adamant that the FA and UEFA must sever ties with the tainted global organisation. He believes it's time to pull the plug on FIFA and start anew – and he's not alone in his scathing assessment.
The catalyst for this call-to-arms was FIFA's outrageous decision to overturn a match ban for an American player, with a spot of presidential grease applied courtesy of Donald Trump. The move was met with outrage from UEFA, who declared it had "crossed a red line" – and that's putting it mildly. From the exorbitant cost of World Cup tickets to the shady treatment of Somali referee Omar Artan, FIFA's mistakes have left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Should the FA follow suit and withdraw from FIFA, England would be forced out of the World Cup – but Sir Ed Davey is convinced it's the right move. He wants national football associations to come together and forge a new governing body that puts fans first, not just lining the pockets of suits in Zurich. "The only route forward is for the FA to lead a co-ordinated exit from FIFA," he urged.
The relationship between UEFA and FIFA has been fraught throughout this World Cup, with clashes over everything from player bans to ticket prices. Gianni Infantino, who's been at the helm since 2016, has faced criticism galore for prioritising profits over people – but despite it all, he's expected to secure a fourth term as president, extending his reign until 2031.
Lib Dem MP Anna Sabine piled on the pressure, accusing FIFA of behaving like "a closed-shop cartel" rather than a neutral governing body. And by rubber-stamping Infantino's re-election despite all this controversy, football's powers-that-be are sending out a stark message: they're happy to sit back and let the status quo fester.