The Liberal Democrats are urging the Football Association (FA) and UEFA to withdraw from FIFA, citing a series of governance failures and what they describe as the exploitation of fans. The party contends that FIFA, under President Gianni Infantino, has "crossed red line after red line" and is "destroying the integrity of the beautiful game."

Sir Ed Davey, a leading figure in the Liberal Democrats, stated that the "only route forward" is for the FA, in conjunction with other European governing bodies, to initiate a "co-ordinated exit from FIFA." Anna Sabine MP, the Liberal Democrats' Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, characterized FIFA as behaving "more like a closed-shop cartel than a neutral global sporting body." She further criticized football's governing bodies for potentially allowing Infantino a fourth term as president, suggesting they are "content to sit in rotten squalor rather than strive for something better."

The calls follow several incidents that have strained relations between UEFA and FIFA during recent World Cup events. These include clashes over player eligibility, such as the Folarin Balogun incident, which UEFA deemed "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable." FIFA has also faced criticism for its dynamic ticket pricing system for World Cup matches and for issues related to officials being denied entry to the United States to officiate tournaments.

Infantino has defended FIFA's ticket pricing, comparing them to costs for other major sporting events in the U.S. FIFA, which has 211 member associations worldwide, organizes the World Cup. England's participation in the World Cup is contingent on the FA's membership in FIFA.

Niall Couper, chair of the Football Action Network, a campaign group for football organizations, indicated that a debate about FIFA's future is necessary, stating that "Nothing should be off the table if the game's global governing body refuses to reform."

Infantino's presidency, which began in 2016, has been marked by contrasting views. Supporters credit him with expanding the sport and increasing funding for member associations. Critics, however, accuse him of centralizing power, prioritizing commercial interests over fan experience, and weakening governance standards. Despite these criticisms, Infantino is widely expected to secure a fourth term, extending his leadership until 2031.