Charlie Kirk’s accused killer smirks at first in-person court hearing

The 22-year-old Utah man accused of killing Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys push to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case.

A Utah judge is weighing the public’s right to know details in the prosecution of Tyler Robinson against his attorneys’ concerns that the swarm of media attention could interfere with his right to a fair trial.

Robinson’s legal team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom.

Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder in the September 10 shooting of the conservative activist Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They plan to seek the death penalty.

Robinson arrived in court with restraints on his wrists and ankles and wearing a dress shirt, tie and slacks. He smiled at family members sitting in the front row of the courtroom, where his mother teared up and wiped her eyes with a tissue. Robinson’s father and brother sat next to her.

The defendant had previously appeared in court via video or audio feed from jail.

A coalition of national and local news organizations, including the Associated Press, is fighting to preserve media access in the case.

Graf has already made allowances to protect Robinson’s presumption of innocence before a trial, agreeing that the case has drawn “extraordinary” public attention.

Graf held a closed hearing on October 24 in which attorneys discussed Robinson’s courtroom attire and security protocols. Under a subsequent ruling by the judge, Robinson is allowed to wear street clothes in court during his pretrial hearings but must be physically restrained due to security concerns. Graf also prohibited media from filming or photographing Robinson’s restraints after his attorneys argued widespread images of him shackled and in jail clothing could prejudice future jurors.

Michael Judd, an attorney for the media coalition, has urged Graf to let the news organizations weigh in on any future requests for closed hearings or other limitations.

The media presence at Utah hearings is already limited, with judges often designating one photographer and one videographer to document a hearing and share their images with other news organizations. Additional journalists can typically attend to listen and take notes, as can members of the public.

Judd wrote in recent filings that an open court “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process” while fostering public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the U.S. have long been open to the public, which he argued is proof that trials can be conducted fairly without restricting reporters as they work to keep the public informed.

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for full transparency, saying, “We deserve to have cameras in there.”

Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to steer young voters toward conservatism.

Robinson’s legal team says his pretrial publicity reaches as far as the White House, with Trump announcing soon after Robinson’s arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.”

Attorney Kathy Nester has raised concerns that digitally altered versions of Robinson’s initial court photo have spread widely, creating misinformation about the case. Some altered images show Robinson crying or having an outburst in court, which did not happen.

Japan lifts tsunami advisory after new 6.7-magnitude tremor

Japan was struck by a new 6.9-magnitude earthquake on Friday morning, hitting a similar area of the Pacific coast to Monday night’s powerful 7.5-magnitude tremor.

The new quake off Aomori prefecture triggered a fresh tsunami advisory from the Japan Meteorological Agency, which warned of the potential for 1 metre tsunami waves along much of the Pacific coast of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.

That advisory was lifted around two hours later, but a number of communities along the coast were evacuated.

The extent of damage or injuries from the new quake wasn’t immediately clear.

Japan had earlier warned of possible aftershocks following Monday’s 7.5-magnitude tremor. Monday night’s earthquake injured at least 51 people and triggered widespread tsunami warnings, with waves of up to 70cm reported in several coastal communities.

On Tuesday, Japan’s weather agency issued its highest-level warning that a megaquake – an earthquake of magnitude 8 or higher – could follow Monday’s powerful tremor. The notice, which remains in place until 16 December, was the first time this top-tier alert has been issued since the warning system was launched in 2022.

Trump plans to break up EU by ‘pulling four Maga allies’ out of bloc

The Trump administration made plans to pull four friendly countries out of the European Union and into America’s orbit in an effort to “Make Europe Great Again”, according to a report.

The 29-page US National Security Strategy (NSS) sent shockwaves around Europe when it was unveiled last week, condemning Washington’s European allies as “weak” and offering support to far-right political parties.

According to Defense One, a longer and unpublished version of the document suggested taking Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland out of the EU and into greater alignment with the US, while backing movements supportive of “traditional European ways of life”.

The four nations were cited as countries the US should “work with more … with the goal of pulling them away” from the EU, according to the US-based news channel, which claimed to have reviewed the document.

The White House strongly pushed back against the existence of an unabridged version of the report.

Defense One claims that it elaborated on how Donald Trump would like to build Washington’s relationship with ideologically aligned administrations, as the US focuses on domestic priorities.

“We should support parties, movements, and intellectual and cultural figures who seek sovereignty and preservation/restoration of traditional European ways of life … while remaining pro-American,” it said, according to Defense One.

The alleged document is likely to spark further alarm in Europe, just days after the NSS claimed countries such as France and Germany were “decaying” due to migration and stifled economic growth.

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly refuted the existence of the report, telling Defense One: “No alternative, private, or classified version exists.

“President Trump is transparent and put his signature on one NSS that clearly instructs the U.S. government to execute on his defined principles and priorities.”

The published version of the document also accused Europe of failing to stop the war in Ukraine, claiming that European leaders had let the conflict “keep going on and on”.

It said “the Trump Administration finds itself at odds with European officials who hold unrealistic expectations for the war perched in unstable minority governments, many of which trample on basic principles of democracy to suppress opposition”.

The report also claimed that Europe faces “civilisational erasure” – a narrative that aligns with far-right parties. Last week, a former US diplomat told The Independent that the document is “disastrously dumb.”

As Europe is forced to spend more to replenish depleted defence industries, Nato’s secretary general warned on Thursday that the continent should prepare for a war “like our grandparents endured” and boost defence spending to deter Russia.

“I fear that too many are quietly complacent. Too many don’t feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now,” he said.

“Allied defence spending and production must rise rapidly. Our armed forces must have what they need to keep us safe.”

British backpacker jailed over fatal e-scooter crash in Perth

A British backpacker who struck and killed a pedestrian while riding an e-scooter drunk in central Perth has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Alicia Kemp, 25, was on a working holiday visa when she collided with 51-year-old Thanh Phan on a busy footpath in May.

Phan, a structural engineer and father of two autistic adult sons, suffered catastrophic head injuries and died in hospital soon after. A friend riding as Kemp’s passenger was also seriously hurt.

The District Court in Perth heard that Kemp had spent two hours drinking with colleagues as part of an all-you-can-drink event, and later continued bar-hopping until she was refused entry to two venues because of her intoxication, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Kemp had hired a rented e-scooter on Murray Street and, with her friend on the back, was seen on CCTV weaving through pedestrians at around 20–25kmph – close to the device’s maximum speed.

Prosecutors said Kemp’s blood-alcohol reading was more than three times the legal limit of 0.05, and that Phan had no opportunity to react before being struck from behind.

Judge Wendy Hughes said the crash “was not an accident”, telling the defendant: “You, Miss Kemp, are the cautionary tale … You were responsible for the death of a good man, and I accept you understand.”

The court was told Kemp briefly continued drinking after the crash because she believed the injuries involved were minor – something Judge Hughes said was neither “cold” nor “callous” in the circumstances, as the extent of the victim’s injuries were not known at the time. But Phan’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and emergency surgery could not save him.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Phan’s wife, Loan Lee, wrote that her husband had been the “backbone” of their family, supporting two sons with high care needs. She said they had been left “vulnerable” and “uncertain”, adding: “The pain of watching someone wait for someone who will never return is indescribable.”

Kemp, who had graduated in psychology and criminology and previously volunteered in the Philippines, wept as the statement was read. Her defence lawyer, Michael Tudori, said she came from a “good family” and had shown “an extreme level of remorse”, unable to bring herself to watch footage of the collision, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

The case has intensified scrutiny of e-scooter regulation in Western Australia, where riders must be over 16, wear helmets, ride sober and carry no passengers.

Phan’s death prompted the City of Perth to suspend its hire scheme, with other councils following. A subsequent parliamentary inquiry warned of an “urgent need” for state reform after finding that serious e-rideable injuries had become a daily occurrence at Perth’s main trauma hospital.

Kemp’s sentence has been backdated to 1 June. She will be eligible for parole after serving two years and is disqualified from driving for the same period.

Could the Royal Navy get caught in Trump’s war against Venezuela?

HMS Manchester moves stealthily and invisibly through a moonless night. Rex Cox, the commanding officer, watches a small blip on his bridge radar screen, knowing his prey is close at hand.

“Four hundred yards to contact,” he says calmly. “Starboard 10.”

“Starboard 10, sir,” replies the quartermaster at the helm.

“Keep downwind. They mustn’t hear us coming,” says Cox, still eyeing the blip. “Three hundred yards – stand by sea boats!”

Sitting in total darkness wearing infrared night sights, I am in one of two RIBs full of heavily armed British sailors. We have already been lowered into the sea and are awaiting orders. An urgent voice comes through from the operations room deep in the bowels of the warship: “They’re ditching packages, sir. We’ve got them on the thermal cameras.”

“They’re spooked!” exclaims Cox. “Deploy sea boats and illuminate!” Immediately, the switches are pulled on two enormous searchlights – one on the starboard bridge wing and another from the midship waist. The RIB surges forward with a roar from its twin outboard motors. Every sailor has their weapon at the ready; my waterproofed camera is on my shoulder and I’m already shooting.

It’s June 2009, and I’ve joined HMS Manchester for a seven-month mission to the Caribbean. I am making a documentary series for Channel 5, but this is no tropical jaunt but a vital deployment, codenamed APT(N) – Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North) – that is as perilous as it is gruelling.

Every year between June and December, the Caribbean and North Atlantic are struck by a devastating hurricane season, and the Royal Navy’s job is to assist with disaster-relief operations and provide support to British Overseas Territories and Commonwealth countries during high-risk months. But that is not the warship’s main task.

The Royal Navy’s conspicuous presence in the region has long been part of the battle to deter traffickers – mainly Colombian and Venezuelan – and to prevent illegal substances, notably cocaine, from reaching US and ultimately European shores. The drug runners ply their trade in fast boats, fishing vessels, and even makeshift submarines, and are all part of a huge criminal network that is well funded, ruthless, and determined. For that reason, since the early 2000s, the Royal Navy has been operating in the Caribbean, to help counter-drug activity in the region.

On board with us is a detachment of highly trained and heavily armed US Coast Guard as well as Royal Marines snipers. Within seconds, my RIB reaches the target fishing boat that intelligence sources have informed us is full of cocaine. We are drenched by sea spray and the huge waves crashing over us.

The sailors around me level their weapons at the three crew on the fishing boat. Are they armed? Will they opt for a shootout? The men – cocaine smugglers – have been caught red-handed ditching their deadly cargo. They look scared, but fear can prompt desperate measures. The sailors squeeze down imperceptibly on their triggers and await the next order.

The smugglers immediately raise their trembling arms. I now see that two are elderly and one much younger – no more than a boy. Hardly the terrifying narco-terrorists I had been expecting. They are not only scared witless; they are in bad physical shape too: thin, badly sunburnt and dehydrated. We later learn they had been at sea for many days with little water and no food.

The ditched packages of cocaine, still floating, are recovered, and the fishing boat is taken in tow. The hapless crew are checked over by the ship’s doctor and given saline drips, water and rations. HMS Manchester’s task is now to hand them over to the authorities, but not before they are interrogated separately by a Spanish-speaking US Coast Guard. This is a perfect opportunity to gain intelligence about how the cartels operate and recruit their mules.

The men – both fishermen, and one the father of the boy – claim to have been coerced into the work by drug-cartel bosses who threatened to harm their families if they did not comply. The detail and similarity of their statements suggest authenticity, and classified information from land-based agents who had infiltrated the gang network corroborates their claims. The recovered cocaine is pure enough to kill the entire population of a city the size of Manchester.

This was one of many interceptions that I was to witness in that ongoing game of cat and mouse between the Royal Navy, the US Coast Guard, and the drug runners. Every day the ship’s Lynx helicopter, carrying Royal Marines snipers, would take off to patrol the ocean in search of suspect vessels. Their orders were not to shoot smugglers, but to take out their engines if they refused to stop. Even when drug runners draped their bodies over the engines to prevent the snipers from firing, the marines were expert shots and could hit their target without injuring a human being.

Nobody on that deployment was hurt, let alone killed. More than once we intercepted a suspect boat that was not carrying drugs at all – just fishing nets and lobster pots.

Compare this to the recent activities of the US military, which has launched a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Last week, defence secretary Pete Hegseth ordered an attack on an alleged drug boat, which killed four occupants, amid the ongoing “double-tap” controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s strikes in the Caribbean. On 2 September, the administration targeted what it claimed was a Venezuelan “narco vessel” in the Caribbean, part of a crackdown that has so far killed more than 86 people in three months. After the first missile failed to kill everyone aboard, it emerged that a second strike was ordered to kill the remaining survivors.

The dynamics of the drug “war” have escalated on both sides, but this has not stopped widespread condemnation of the shoot-first-ask-questions-later policy now adopted by the US administration. Many are now accusing Hegseth of war crimes, but he remains steadfast in his defence, doubling down on claims that Venezuelan narco-terrorists are a direct threat to American communities; that illegal drugs are “poisoning the American people”.

The ante has been upped in recent weeks and days – the most recent incident being yesterday’s seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking a sharp escalation in Washington’s campaign against Nicolás Maduro’s government. The war against drug runners in the region is now viewed by many as part of a wider strategic initiative that could even see US troops on Venezuelan soil.

Against this backdrop, the Royal Navy continues its own drug-interdiction mission in the region, cooperating with partners and NATO allies, including the US, to stem the illicit flow of drugs. Since December 2023, HMS Trent has been deployed to the Caribbean, and while it has been busy recently with hurricane-relief duties in Jamaica, it has also had considerable success in tracking and intercepting drug runners.

Last year, the British warship seized £160m worth of cocaine from a “narco-submarine” in the Caribbean Sea – the first time the Royal Navy has intercepted such a vessel. Nobody was harmed in the operation. Despite the US’s newly aggressive tactical approach, the prevailing view remains that it is better to capture rather than kill – if only because of the opportunity to interrogate prisoners to glean intelligence.

The shooting of fast boats on sight is already prompting questions – especially the “double-tapping” of injured suspects. If this is to be regarded as a war against the US, it should render such suspects hors de combat (“out of the fight”), making them prisoners of war – a protected status ensuring humane treatment under the Geneva Conventions, which prevent their killing or harm.

There is also the possibility that some of these so-called brutal narco-terrorists are, as in my experience with HMS Manchester, hapless fishermen who have been strong-armed into an illicit trade – a trade that now, thanks to the US’s more robust rules of engagement, carries the death penalty without trial or interrogation from either side.

Rex Cox was never without sympathy for the drug mules. “I have no doubt that they probably faced hard choices at home, but our job is to work with allies to prevent the transportation of deadly drugs, so we have to be steely about this at the end of the day.”

A US Coast Guard on board HMS Manchester (whose identity is classified) was more forthright: “These mules are the fall guys – expendable. The real villains are the gang leaders. People in San Francisco, New York and London who get their recreational fixes from cocaine need to know there’s always blood on it.”

So intractable is the drug problem – globally but particularly in the United States – that perhaps the real solution lies at the other end of the sharp stick: suppressing the demand through social awareness, education and drug rehabilitation.

No matter how efficient the drones or deadly the missiles, only a reduction in demand can solve this issue – but that is assuming the Trump’s administration’s recent aggression is about a war on drugs and not another strategic play.

After one of its oil tankers was seized by the US military, Venezuela accused the US of engaging in an “international act of piracy”. “Under these circumstances, the true reasons for the prolonged aggression against Venezuela have finally been revealed… It has always been about our natural resources – our oil, our energy – resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement.

While the UK is not directly engaging in any US military operations against Venezuela, the Royal Navy is continuing its traditional Caribbean mission focused on security, interdiction of illicit drugs, support to Overseas Territories and humanitarian relief.

In November, CNN reported that the UK government had suspended the sharing of intelligence with the US on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, amid concerns about the lethal military strikes by American forces.

Responding to the CNN report, a UK government spokesperson said: “It is our longstanding policy not to comment on intelligence matters.”

But as the legality of the US military’s campaign around Latin America continues to be questioned, who knows how strained our relations could become with our closest ally in the future?

From bean tech to bespoke brews, discover the ultimate coffee machine

There aren’t many Christmas gifts that are guaranteed to be used every day, unless you opt for a toothbrush. Which to be honest, isn’t the most exciting present to rip open on Christmas morning. Unlike a brand new, stylish and sleek coffee machine.

De’Longhi’s stellar Rivelia system will steal the show in any kitchen it calls home. Its bean-to-cup system gives you at-home coffee that’s as delicious as the one made by your favourite barista, and also offers a more sustainable option, that feels as good as it tastes. So whether you’re looking for your first machine, or want to upgrade your existing coffee set-up, here’s why this market-leading crema-de-la-crop needs to be top of your 2025 Christmas list…

Bean-to-cup machines are the most sustainable way to enjoy coffee, with no single-use coffee pods, minimal packaging and biodegradable grounds that you can throw straight into your compost bin. Bean-to-cup also serves up the fullest flavour, whatever coffee you’re in the mood for. And if that preference tends to change, the Rivelia’s interchangeable bean hoppers mean you can flip between your I-need-to-wake-up-in-the-next-two-minutes espresso and leisurely afternoon decaf with ease.

The Rivelia comes equipped with Bean Adapt technology as well as a how-to guide, to make it super simple to get the best out of your beans. The guide helps you find the right grind, extraction temperature and aroma intensity for the specific blend and roast, all of which means that you get to enjoy the most perfect, personally crafted coffee. You can even name each bag of beans entered for future caffeine (or non-caffeine) hits.

With four user profiles, the Rivelia can get to know everyone in your household and their coffee preferences, even better than Dan from the local coffee shop. And he knows them well. Nothing is set in stone though: you can always tweak your order when needed. Is it the kind of day that demands an extra shot? Throw one in. Going large and savouring a long coffee in the garden this morning? Not a problem, the Rivelia lets you customise away.

Did you get the nativity tickets? Where are the Christmas lights? Have you pre-ordered the turkey? If your pre-Christmas to-do list is already sixteen pages long and you can’t cope with another question, the De’Longhi Rivelia can take one decision off your plate. Pre-programmed choices include a classic flat white, on-trend cortado, and trusty Americano among many others (16 in total). Hot water and milk-only options are available and when the sun finally comes out again, the Rivelia can do its magic on iced coffee choices too. Simply hit the button, and breathe.

The Rivelia’s LatteCrema carafe creates hot milk and milk foam to give the sort of silky-smooth finish you normally associate with a ten minute queue and a six quid bill. Now, you can get the same barista-style experience at home, whilst lolling in your kitchen in your slippers. Want an alternative milk option? Not a problem; the Rivelia is compatible with oat, soy and coconut milk too.

How clever is this? If you tend to start your day with a flat white but crave the pep of an espresso by mid-morning, your Rivelia will learn that. Soon it will know your personal preferences and update its screen to show the drink that you’re likely to fancy, at the time that you fancy it. It’s almost as if you have your own barista hanging out in your kitchen (without the awkwardness when you turn up bleary-eyed in your dressing gown).

It’s not just flavour and sustainability it excels at: the Rivelia’s sleek look means that it’s a design win for any stylish home too. And it’s easy to keep it looking and working at its best. The De’Longhi Rivelia rinses automatically and is easy to wash by hand (bonus: some parts will go in the dishwasher), with the brewing unit simple to remove and rinse too. All you need to do is descale it regularly (frequency depends on water hardness in your area), plus you can register your machine for a two-year guarantee, for even more peace of mind.

To find out more about the Rivelia and buy your machine, visit Delonghi

Carragher takes fresh swipe at Salah after Liverpool fans’ reaction

Jamie Carragher maintains Mohamed Salah has failed in his attempt to “weaken” Arne Slot’s position at Liverpool following his rant at Elland Road.

The Egypt forward was omitted from the squad that travelled to the San Siro for the 1-0 victory over Inter Milan and could also miss out against Brighton this weekend before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025.

The Reds rallied without their talisman, after his wild claims that he had been “thrown under the bus” over the Premier League champions’ poor form, securing a vital victory late on through Dominik Szoboszlai’s penalty.

And Carragher has now claimed the performance, as well as the mood from the travelling supporters, proves Salah has been misguided.

“If Mohamed Salah’s intention with his grumble in the huddle at Elland Road was to weaken Slot, he must now concede that his misguided actions have had the opposite effect,” Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column.

“The chief reason for Salah’s miscalculation is his failure to fully understand the psychology of the club’s hardcore fanbase. In a choice between a title-winning Anfield manager and a multi-title-winning footballer, the coach wins every time.

“The relationship between a successful Liverpool boss and the Kop is, through my eyes at least, unique. The fans have a banner that displays the faces of all the most revered managers in the club’s history. Slot’s face was added this year.

“It was striking how Slot’s name was chanted from early on in the game at San Siro. The travelling fans backed him when the score was 0-0. They were sending a message that their views on how the team and the club is run matters more than the gripes of one footballer, no matter how brilliant that player has been. That stood out to me as much as the professional performance.”

Salah could return against Brighton in the Premier League this weekend, though the 33-year-old will then depart for Morocco as the Pharaohs bid to win an eighth continental title and first since 2010.

Fifa ‘betrayal’ as England fans face £5,000 bill for World Cup tickets

England fans have been warned they could expect to pay more than £5,000 on match tickets alone if they want to follow their country at next summer’s World Cup and Thomas Tuchel’s team go all the way to the final, which has been priced at over £3,000.

The Independent understands some national associations have reacted in horror after they were informed that PMA (Participating Member Associations) tickets are up to five times more expensive than the last World Cup in Qatar, while Football Supporters Europe (FSE), the main European fan group, has accused Fifa of “betrayal” and called for an “immediate halt” to ticket sales.

Some national associations are said to be “furious”, and England’s FA is set to notify the England Supporters Travel Club that eligible members – those who have accrued enough loyalty points to meet their criteria – could expect to pay at least £198 for a “value tier” seat at their opening game of the tournament against Croatia in Dallas. PMAs are allocated eight per cent of the tickets for each match they take part in.

The Croatian football federation has published details of the PMA tickets for the tournament, with a “standard tier” seat at the England game £372 and the “premium tier” seat at £520. The prices then increase throughout the tournament and the cheapest PMA ticket for the World Cup final on 19 July is listed at £3,117 each.

The PMA price for Scotland’s allocation was confirmed by the Scottish Football Association (SFA), with the cheapest ticket for their opening match against Haiti in Boston costing £134, rising to £372 for the “premium tier”. The cheapest Scotland ticket for the Brazil match in Miami is priced at £198, rising to £520 for “premium tier” – the same breakdown used for England’s match against Croatia.

The “extortionate” ticket prices do not account for travel to the United States and the cost of hotels, with prices skyrocketing since the confirmation of the World Cup match schedule following last Friday’s tournament draw.

Tickets for PMAs are set at a fixed rate and not subject to “variable pricing” – while all fans can enter a random selection draw, opening on Thursday 11 December, with Fifa yet to confirm prices for those tickets.

Tickets that hit the market on general sale will be subject to dynamic pricing, making attending in-demand games and following the most popular teams more expensive, while Fifa will also operate its own resale market that allows sellers to charge many times above face value for games in the United States and Canada, but not Mexico, and also take 30 per cent of the sell-on price.

“This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is,” FSE said in a statement.

“For the first time in World Cup history, no consistent price will be offered across all group stage games. Instead, Fifa is introducing a variable pricing policy dependent on vague criteria such as the perceived attractiveness of the fixture. Fans of different national teams will therefore have to pay different prices for the same category at the same stage of the tournament, without any transparency on the pricing structure enforced by Fifa.

“We call on Fifa to immediately halt PMA ticket sales, engage in a consultation with all impacted parties, and review ticket prices and category distribution until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found.”

A Fifa statement on ticket prices previously said: “The pricing model adopted for Fifa World Cup 26 reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis, soccer included.

“This is also a reflection of the treatment of the secondary market for tickets, which has a distinct legal treatment than in many other parts of the world. We are focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing but also prospective fans.

“Stadium category maps do not reflect the number of tickets available in a given category but rather present default seating locations. Fifa resale fees are aligned with North American industry trends across various sports and entertainment sectors.”

The FA and Fifa have been approached for comment