Ian Wright has labeled this summer’s FIFA World Cup as ‘chaos’ after a Somali referee scheduled to officiate was refused entry to the United States. Omar Artan was turned away at Miami International Airport on Saturday despite holding valid travel documentation.
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Somalia is among several nations whose citizens have faced a total prohibition on travel into the United States that was put in place in June last year. FIFA have confirmed that Artan, who was chosen as one of 52 referees for the competition, has been dropped from its list.
And Wright turned to Instagram to share a video in which he pointed to other incidents that have taken place in the lead-up to this summer’s competition that is being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and called it a ‘World Cup of chaos,’ as per The Mirror. The former England and Arsenal striker said: “I have just read that the Somalian referee has been denied entry.
“Every few hours it’s another story. Another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied now refs? You know something? I’m laughing, but it’s not funny. It’s actually not funny, something has to be said.
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“Expensive tickets, most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof. It has to be said. Is this how the hosts behave for the greatest game? The greatest tournament in the world, is this how the hosts behave? How are we not hearing more?
“Are we not seeing Qatar got dragged? How are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football? Really? You know who I feel for? I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this.
“American soccer fans who are desperate for this and how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them must this be. This is you know what this is, this is the World Cup of chaos.
“Whoever wins this World Cup is going to have to go through some serious chaos to get this done. I hope we can do it. But something has to be said man. This is the World Cup.”
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Regarding Artan, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed: “FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States.
“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present. In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.”
This marks not the first occasion Wright has expressed frustration about this summer’s tournament. During ITV’s launch event, the former Arsenal forward fumed about the ‘scandalous’ prices supporters are being charged for tickets and travel.
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“It’s massive, it’s scandalous what’s going on,” he said. “Yesterday I heard what else is going behind the (pay) wall, Europa League, Champions League… FA Cup has been behind the wall… this is where football is going.
“The tickets. The travel, everything is extortionate, it’s a rich man’s game. It’s scandalous.
“If I was young Ian Wright – eight-year-old Ian Wright, 1970 World Cup, free-to-air, watched all the rounds – if I was young Ian Wright, I don’t know where I’d get football from.
“Look at the FA Cup the other day, it came and went like nothing, that is something that is behind a wall. There are countries behind a wall at the World Cup, that’s wrong in itself, if we’re going to start charging people. It’s not even accessible to people in America, this is the World Cup!”
