Former England footballer Ian Wright has sharply criticized the United States after Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry just one day before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins. Artan, selected as one of 52 match officials by FIFA and set to become the first Somali referee in World Cup history, was stopped at Miami airport by US border authorities despite holding a valid visa and documents. After extended questioning, he was declared ineligible and sent back, with US Customs and Border Protection citing “vetting concerns.” FIFA later confirmed that Artan would not officiate in the tournament.
Wright expressed outrage in a social media video, calling the event a “World Cup of chaos.” He criticized the organizers for high costs and poor management, saying the situation embarrassed US football fans. The incident follows other visa and travel complications affecting officials and supporters from several countries, including Iran.
FIFA stated it has no control over national visa or immigration policies, emphasizing that such decisions rest solely with the host governments of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
স্পোর্টস ডেস্ক প্রকাশ : ১০ জুন ২০২৬, ১২: ০৫ বিশ্বকাপ শুরুর মাত্র একদিন আগে আবারও বিতর্কে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র। এবার সোমালিয়ার রেফারি ওমর আবদুলকাদির আরতানকে দেশে প্রবেশের অনুমতি না দেওয়ায় ক্ষোভ উগরে দিয়েছেন ইংল্যান্ডের সাবেক তারকা ইয়ান রাইট। তার ভাষায়,
The ‘1 Nojor’ media platform is now live in beta, inviting users to explore and provide feedback as we continue to refine the experience.
