'We don't control everything' - FIFA president Gianni Infantino responds to referee controversy as Omar Artan denied entry, defends USA as co-host
Updated 10/06/2026 at 22:02 GMT+1
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Gianni Infantino has described the decision to deny Somalia referee Omar Artan entry to the USA owing to a visa issue before the FIFA World Cup as ”unfortunate.”
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Artan looked set to become the first Somali to take charge of a match at a World Cup this summer but he was denied entry to the USA at Miami International Airport on Monday.
He was in possession of a diplomatic passport and a single-entry visa to enter the USA but was forced to return to Somalia on Wednesday.
Infantino says that FIFA will see what it can do, but emphasised that the organisation does not have the power to overrule governments. Â
”It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,” he said. ”Again, we don't control everything. We try, we will discuss, we will speak, we will see.
”Sometimes it's good to chill, relax, we work on everything, we try to solve everything. Sometimes, to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution.
”Believe me when I tell you, we always try to find solutions. But we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation.”
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Artan was named African referee of the year in 2025.
The BBC have reported that a member of Donald Trump’s administration has said that the match official was denied entry to the country because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations".
Somalia is one of several nations that have had their immigrant visa processing indefinitely suspended since Trump returned to the Oval Office.
Artan said he had all the necessary documentation after being denied entry to the USA.
”I am very, very disappointed,” Artan told the New York Times. ”I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.
”I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa.”
The FIFA World Cup is set to get underway on Thursday when Mexico take on South Africa in Group A.
Infantino insists he does not regret having the USA as a co-host, stressing that he experienced bigger issues ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
"No, I don't regret anything," he added. "I have been organising events for the last 30 years. I am used to dealing with issues.
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"The press conference I made you all remember that. The issues there were different, probably bigger.
"I was feeling I had to give a voice to all those unheard. There are issues; it's normal for an event of this magnitude. I would always hope there are no issues, but hey, that's what we have to deal with.
"Some come from the United States, some from Canada, some from Mexico. We deal with all of them and we have the same positive spirit. Hopefully, we can solve all of them. Probably not, but we still do our best."
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