England Walking Football Team Banned from Euros
England's walking football team has been banned from the upcoming European Championships, allegedly by their own chief executive. The national team, who are reigning champions in five age categories, have been banned from playing in November's tournament after a row with their association's own boss.
What happened?
According to sources, the ban was imposed by Paul Carr, the chief executive of England's Walking Football Association (WFA) and president of the Federation of International Walking Football Associations (FIWFA), the sport's global body. Carr allegedly imposed the sanction after his fellow WFA directors backed a merger with the Football Association, which he opposed.
Why it matters for England
The decision means England, one of the world's leading walking football teams, will not participate in the Euros in Spain in November. This is a significant blow to the team and their fans, who were looking forward to the tournament.
What comes next?
The WFA has expressed disappointment at the ban, calling it "disproportionate" and "disappointing". The organisation has stated that it is a "great shame" that FIWFA have taken what they consider to be disproportionate action, disappointing their players and creating a situation where the other teams entering will not be able to compete against, in most categories, the reigning world champions.
As of 15 Aug 2026, England is 1st in the World Cup, with 7 points from 3 games, recent form WLWWW. They are 1 point clear of Croatia and have a next fixture vs Spain at home on 2026-09-26. The team has won 4 of their last 5 games, with a recent result of France 4-6 England (2026-07-18).
The dispute between the WFA and FIWFA kicked off in 2025 when talks began on a potential merger, and escalated this summer when the FIWFA said referees had left the WFA to join it, which the English body disputed. The WFA also accused FIWFA of withholding their entry deposit for the Euros and threatening to fine it over the referees dispute.
Walking football was invented in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in 2011. It is a slower version of the game, with running, slide tackles and heading banned. A spokesman for the WFA told the Eastern Daily Press: "There are a number of ongoing issues, some of which would be confidential and as such we cannot comment at this time."
Mr Carr, who represents Elmham and Mattishall on Norfolk county council, and the FIWFA were approached for comment.
What's next for the team?
The team's next fixture is vs Spain at home on 2026-09-26. They will be looking to bounce back from this disappointment and get back to competing at the highest level.
The WFA has stated that it is a "great shame" that FIWFA have taken what they consider to be disproportionate action, disappointing their 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 team has won 4 of their last 5 games, with a recent result of France 4-6 England (2026-07-18). They are 1 point clear of Croatia and have a next fixture vs Spain at home on 2026-09-26.
The dispute between the WFA and FIWFA kicked off in 2025 when talks began on a potential merger, and escalated this summer when the FIWFA said referees had left the WFA to join it, which the English body disputed. The WFA also accused FIWFA of withholding their entry deposit for the Euros and threatening to fine it over the referees dispute.
Walking football was invented in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in 2011. It is a slower version of the game, with running, slide tackles and heading banned. A spokesman for the WFA told the Eastern Daily Press: "There are a number of ongoing issues, some of which would be confidential and as such we cannot comment at this time."
Mr Carr, who represents Elmham and Mattishall on Norfolk county council, and the FIWFA were approached for comment.
Image Prompt:
A photorealistic image of an anonymous England walking football player, aged 35-40, in a blue jersey with white shorts and blue socks, looking disappointed and frustrated after being told the team has been banned from the Euros. The player is standing in a dimly lit corridor, with a faint light in the background, and a hint of a stadium in the distance. The image is shot with a 50mm lens, f/2.8, and a shallow depth of field, with the player's face and eyes in sharp focus. The image should convey a sense of disappointment and frustration, with the player's body language and facial expression telling the story of the team's ban from the Euros.
