Former Arsenal forward, Ian Wright, has described this summer’s World Cup as ‘chaos and embarrassing for American football fans’ after an African referee, Omar Artan, from Somali set to officiate, was denied entry to the United States.
Recall that Artan was set to become the first referee from his country to officiate at a World Cup.
He was selected by FIFA as one of 52 referees to officiate this year’s World Cup tournament.
However, after being denied entry to the United States, FIFA confirmed he will now be removed from its roster.
Reacting, Wright, in a video post on social media, 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 am laughing, but it’s not funny, it’s actually not funny, and something has to be said.
“The expensive tickets, the most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof. It has to be said.
“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, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.
“This is the World Cup, this is a 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 now. This is the World Cup.”
World Cup 2026: ‘Chaos, embarrassing’ – Ian Wright reacts as US denied African referee entry
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