FIFA referee denied entry by the US

[El Gen]

mental

Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan, set to be the first from his country to officiate at the

You must be logged on to see external links

, was denied entry to the United States, a sports ministry official told AFP on Monday.

“Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play,” Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior advisor to Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, told AFP.

 

[bankofengland]

Absolute shit stain of a "tournament"

 

[PS]

Everyone should withdraw from Trump's farce. Boycouut

 

[englishman abroad]

Absolute shit stain of a "country"

Sorted mate

 

[LynchMob]

If FIFA can't organise getting officials in what chance ordinary supporters? This world cup is becoming more and more intolerable and unwatchable!

 

[BingoBango]

aaaaand it's bullshit like this that means I'm the least excited for a World Cup ever. Shitshow for scumbags.

 

[JL1985]

Maybe VAR can help him.

 

[max wartbug]

What was the reason for it, though? I'll wait to see what "history" he has before making my mind up.

 

[flusheding]

What was the reason for it, though? I'll wait to see what "history" he has before making my mind up.

The history will be he is from Somalia, the US basically aren't accepting any of their citizens full stop. He already had trouble with the initial application to arrive and jumped through hoops for that, to then be turned away at the border when arriving.

 

[max wartbug]

The history will be he is from Somalia, the US basically aren't accepting any of their citizens full stop. He already had trouble with the initial application to arrive and jumped through hoops for that, to then be turned away at the border when arriving.

Right oh, cheers. I didn't realise it was a blanket ban on Somalians. I suppose rules are rules, but you would have thought they'd have given an exemption for the tournament.

 

[stan the man]

Everyone should withdraw from Trump's farce. Boycouut

Just all the referees, that would fuck them right over

 

[nelford_safc]

This World Cup is so shite and uninteresting that it's the one England are gonna win, isn't it?

 

[Teejay]

Right oh, cheers. I didn't realise it was a blanket ban on Somalians. I suppose rules are rules, but you would have thought they'd have given an exemption for the tournament.

I think I read that around 20 of the countries competing have restrictions or complete bans entering USA. And a lot of the Middle Eastern countries have no embassies open due to the war so getting a visa is extremely difficult.

 

[Fact Hunt]

This World Cup is so shite and uninteresting that it's the one England are gonna win, isn't it?

I hope Iran win the world cup. It would be an absolute mind f@ck for Trump and co.

 

[lloydchristmas2]

I hope Iran win the world cup. It would be an absolute mind f@ck for Trump and co.

North Korea win it every 4 years iirc

 

[CARLOS CLASS]

This World Cup is so shite and uninteresting that it's the one England are gonna win, isn't it?

No chance

 

[SuperSub]

I think I read that around 20 of the countries competing have restrictions or complete bans entering USA. And a lot of the Middle Eastern countries have no embassies open due to the war so getting a visa is extremely difficult.

This ref had to get a diplomatic passport and was given visa clearance yet was still refused entry into the US

 

[FatDrummer]

What was the reason for it, though? I'll wait to see what "history" he has before making my mind up.

He’s from Somalia.
That’s it.

 

[Alfies Hat]

Just all the referees, that would fuck them right over

All of the referees should refuse to officiate.
Then again, the teams should refuse to play.

 

[Hongkongphooey]

All of the referees should refuse to officiate.
Then again, the teams should refuse to play.

Unfortunately this bloke is running the football circus