A Reform UK councillor is at the centre of an extraordinary walking football dispute that has resulted in England being barred from this year’s European Championships.
Paul Carr, who represents Elmham and Mattishall on Norfolk County Council, holds senior positions within both the Walking Football Association (WFA) and the Federation of International Walking Football Associations (FIWFA).
Carr is chief executive of the WFA, which oversees the sport in England, while simultaneously serving as president of international governing body FIWFA.
It is in the latter role that he has become embroiled in a bitter disagreement with the English organisation.
FIWFA has suspended the WFA, meaning England’s teams will not compete at November’s European Championships in Spain despite currently dominating walking football on the international stage.
England won the men’s over-50s, over-60s and over-70s competitions at last year’s World Cup, while their women’s over-40s side also claimed glory.
The dispute comes after the WFA began discussions with the Football Association last year over establishing closer ties to help grow the sport, which is a slower version of football designed particularly for older players.
The WFA board broadly backed the discussions, but Carr raised objections to the proposed direction.
A Reform UK councillor is at the centre of an extraordinary walking football dispute that has resulted in England being barred from this year’s European Championships
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FIFWA
Tensions subsequently escalated following a disagreement over claims concerning English referees.
FIWFA claimed in a WhatsApp group involving national associations that a group of referees had left the WFA to join the international organisation.
The WFA publicly disputed that account.
According to the WFA, Carr then wrote to the organisation in his capacity as FIWFA president demanding a retraction and apology for “bringing FIWFA into disrepute”.
The WFA claims it was warned England could be removed from the European Championships if it refused.
It subsequently lodged a complaint with FIWFA and requested details of the international body’s complaints and disciplinary procedures.
The WFA alleges Carr declined to allow its complaint concerning him to be investigated.
It says separate complaints submitted against two of its own board members were investigated under WFA procedures, with both cleared of wrongdoing.
FIWFA then suspended the English association, leaving six England teams unable to compete in Spain.
“It is a great shame that FIWFA have taken what we consider to be disproportionate action, disappointing our players and creating a situation where the other teams entering will not be able to compete against, in most categories, the reigning world champions,” the WFA said.
A WFA spokesman said: “There are a number of ongoing issues, some of which would be confidential and as such we cannot comment at this time.”
The controversy has prompted bewilderment among some members of the walking football community.
“Am I right that Mr Carr is effectively disciplining himself as he is chair and president of both bodies? You couldn’t make this up,” Mark Henshaw wrote in response to the WFA’s Facebook statement.
Another commenter, Chris Davis, described the situation as a “battle of egos”.
It is not Carr’s first dispute involving football governance.
FIFA threatened legal action against FIWFA over its name and logo in 2020, when Carr was the organisation’s chief executive.
At the time, Carr branded FIFA’s intervention “silly, inappropriate and disproportionate”.
Now England’s dominant walking football teams are paying the price of the latest governance row, with the reigning world champions set to watch November’s European Championships from home.