Connect with us

Entertainment

FIFA president pushed on U.S. travel restrictions before World Cup kickoff

Published on

Credit: BBC Sports

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was challenged by a BBC reporter over U.S. travel restrictions affecting the World Cup, including the case of a Somali referee who was denied entry despite being selected to officiate at the tournament.

The exchange happened during a press briefing in Mexico City, a day before the World Cup is set to kick off.

BBC sports editor Dan Roan asked whether FIFA had lost some control of its own tournament after several visa and travel issues involving players, officials, journalists and fans.

Roan cited the case of Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali referee who was sent back from Miami International Airport after U.S. officials denied him entry. He also pointed to Iran having to change its training base to Mexico and people from a number of countries being unable to attend the tournament because of travel bans or visa restrictions.

“You yourself have said in the past how important it is to have freedom of movement at a global event like this,” Roan told Infantino. “Are you embarrassed therefore by what actually has come to pass? And do you have to accept that you’ve lost some control of your own tournament here?”

Infantino rejected the suggestion that FIFA could dictate immigration decisions to governments, saying the organization was working behind the scenes but had no authority over police forces or border agencies.

“Would you find it normal that FIFA would dictate to the British government who to let into the country and who not to let into the country?” Infantino said, referring to the possibility of a future Women’s World Cup in the United Kingdom. “Maybe you find it normal. I would not.”

Infantino said security decisions ultimately remain with governments, even when they affect a global sporting event. He said it was not easy to process and vet hundreds of thousands of accredited people, most of them coming from outside the United States.

“Security goes above everything,” Infantino said. “You need to respect the decisions which are taken.”

The FIFA president also defended his earlier remarks that people should “chill” and “relax,” saying he did not mean that FIFA would do nothing.

“When I say to chill, I don’t mean to chill and do nothing,” he said. “I mean to trust us that we are working behind the scenes.”

“There are things we can know, things we cannot know, things we are told, things we are not told,” Infantino said. “We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions. Sometimes we manage, other times not.”

Infantino also said it was already significant that Iran was able to play in the United States during the tournament. “I think it has already been successful to bring Iran to play in America,” he said. “I don’t know who would have managed to do that.”

Artan, who was named referee of the year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football, told the New York Times yesterday that he had a visa, FIFA documents and proof of his refereeing career when he arrived in Miami from Istanbul.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry after officers determined he was inadmissible because of vetting concerns.

Related Topics:

Most Viewed