FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred from entering the United States by American authorities due to alleged ties to terrorist organizations. This marks the first time Infantino has commented on the incident.
Details: Infantino confirmed that FIFA is constrained by the strict immigration regulations of the host country and cannot intervene in such matters. He expressed regret that Artan was unable to make his historic debut at the World Cup, while urging the public to avoid escalating the situation.
“What happened to him is unfortunate, but we can’t control everything. We need to stay calm and relax. With this World Cup, I want to unite the whole world,” Infantino stated bluntly.
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This remark has elicited a mixed response from the football community, with many anticipating a more robust defense from FIFA regarding the treatment of its officials in light of the situation.