BY Issah Olegor
Just hours before the FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway in North America, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has launched a scathing attack on both FIFA and United States authorities over the controversial denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, describing the incident as a serious breach of World Cup hosting obligations.
The controversy has cast a shadow over preparations for football’s biggest tournament, which officially begins on June 11 in Mexico and is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The incident has reignited debate about the responsibilities of host nations and FIFA’s authority in ensuring that accredited tournament officials are granted unrestricted access to perform their duties.
Omar Artan, one of the referees selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reportedly arrived at Miami International Airport in Florida to join other match officials assigned to the tournament.
However, according to reports, United States immigration authorities ruled him ineligible to enter the country and subsequently sent him back to Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital city.
The development immediately drew criticism from football stakeholders around the world, with questions being raised about how a FIFA-appointed official could be prevented from entering a host nation only days before the start of the tournament.
The situation has also fuelled concerns over whether adequate guarantees were secured for all tournament personnel before the World Cup was awarded to the three North American countries.
Speaking to French newspaper L’Equipe, Blatter condemned the decision in strong terms, describing it as both “unbelievable” and “crazy.”
The former FIFA chief argued that the ability of tournament officials to enter a host country is one of the most fundamental requirements attached to hosting rights.
Blatter emphasized that countries chosen to stage the World Cup must satisfy two essential conditions: ensuring security for all participants and guaranteeing entry visas for FIFA officials.
According to him, referees represent some of the most important officials at the tournament, making the refusal of entry particularly troubling.
“When a country is given the honour of hosting the World Cup, there are two indispensable rules: security and guaranteeing entry visas for all FIFA officials. There is nothing more official than a referee. If a country refuses entry to a referee, this is a serious problem, and the tournament should not be held there,” Blatter reportedly stated.
The former FIFA president further argued that while the tournament cannot realistically be halted at such a late stage, the episode reflects a failure on the part of both FIFA and the host nation to uphold a core principle of World Cup organisation.
“The tournament cannot be stopped now, but this is shameful. FIFA has abandoned a principle that the host country has not respected,” he added.
Blatter’s comments are significant given his long association with world football governance. He served as FIFA president from 1998 until 2015, overseeing multiple World Cups before his departure amid controversies that engulfed world football’s governing body.
Despite no longer holding office, his views continue to attract attention on matters concerning FIFA administration and tournament governance.
The visa controversy also comes at a sensitive moment for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the governing body, which have spent years preparing for the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
The tournament represents the largest expansion in FIFA World Cup history and is expected to attract millions of fans across 16 host cities spread throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While FIFA has yet to indicate that the incident will affect the tournament’s schedule or officiating arrangements, the case has highlighted the complex immigration and security challenges associated with staging a multinational sporting event of such magnitude.
