1928: The English Football Association resigns from Fifa

England, along with Uefa, has threatened to boycott all Fifa competitions following a proposal by its president, Gianni Infantino, to sell part of the World Cup to US-based private investors.

Although England’s refusal to participate in the World Cup may seem unthinkable, in 1928 the English Football Association went further and left Fifa altogether.

The resignation came after an ongoing dispute with Fifa over the status of amateurism in international football, which came to a head over football in the Olympics. Fifa wanted the International Olympic Committee to redefine the amateur status, allowing for players to be remunerated for participating at the Games. The English FA strongly opposed this, believing, amongst other things, that it violated the pure spirit of Olympic amateurism.

The IOC gave in to Fifa’s demands, leading the English Football Association, the Scottish FA, the Football Association of Wales and the Irish FA to resign from Fifa. The four remained outside Fifa when the first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930.

Associations leave the Federation

22 February 1928

The Football Association, the Scottish FA, the Football Association of Wales, and the Irish FA have resigned their membership of La Federation Internationale de Football Association, the world organisation with headquarters on the Continent.

This news, which was not unexpected, was announced yesterday, when the report of the conference of the representatives of the Associations of the United Kingdom was issued to the press. The Council of the Football Association have adopted the recommendation of withdrawal from membership with the Federation, and this decision has been communicated to La Federation Internationale de Football Association in a letter from M FJ Wall. This reads as follows:—

double quotation markThe action of La Federation Internationale de Football Association in deciding not to take part in the Olympic Games unless the Olympia Council permitted players who receive payment for ‘lost time’ to participate, and the demand having been acceded to by the Olympic Council, has been received with great regret by the Associations of the United Kingdom, and has called for their serious consideration.

Association football is the only game at the Olympic gatherings in which such payments are permissible, and as a consequence of this decision the Associations of the United Kingdom are unable to take part in the Olympic Games.

Before professionalism was recognised by the Associations of the United Kingdom in 1885, it was found that there were many breaches of the rules by payments to players under various pleas and devices.

After prolonged discussion and consideration it was decided that the only effective manner of dealing with the practices then existing was to draw a clear line between those players who desired to take part in the game without remuneration and others who desired remuneration for their services. Rules were accordingly adopted to remedy the mischief, and have proved to be satisfactory.

The associations of the United Kingdom – having regard to the troubles caused in the conduct of the game prior to the existing definition of an amateur – are unable to accept the practice which has now been adopted by La Federation Internationale de Football Association, as they are satisfied from their experience in years past that it will not work out satisfactorily. The great minority of the Associations affiliated with La Federation Internationale de Football Association are of comparatively recent formation, and as a consequence cannot have the knowledge which only experience can bring.

The Associations of the United Kingdom have, therefore, had under consideration the action of La Federation Internationale de Football Association and the inconsistent position in which they are placed, for so long as they are members of the Federation they must accept its rules, regulations, and decisions. The Associations of the United Kingdom fully recognise the privileges belonging to each affiliated Association, and each member settles and determines its own rules and regulations apart from general principles and agreed policy.

Having carefully considered certain resolutions submitted to, and, in some instances, approved by La Federation Internationale de Football Association, and, whilst desiring to maintain friendly relations with the Federation and its affiliated Associations and to cooperate with them on all suitable occasions, the Associations of the United Kingdom have decided to and hereby resign membership with La Federation Internationale de Football Association.

An official view of the situation given to-day is that the break with the Federation will not interfere, so far as the Associations of the United Kingdom are concerned, with the playing of matches abroad by teams from the United Kingdom. The Associations are prepared to carry on as heretofore, fulfilling international matches and arranging tours. Though membership of the Federation has been discontinued, the Associations desire to maintain friendly relations and to co-operate with the Federation on all suitable occasions.

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