Gary Neville has labelled the United States’ decision to ban Somalian referee Omar Artan from officiating at the World Cup as ‘ridiculous’, with the pundit questioning the host nation’s tolerance.
Artan was set to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after he had made FIFA’s final list for the tournament.
The official, who was named as Africa’s best male referee last year, was questioned for 11 hours by border officials before being put on a flight to Istanbul, in Turkey.
President Donald Trump’s administration then made a bombshell claim that the referee was denied entry due to terrorism fears.
Artan’s situation was highlighted as ITV began their coverage of the World Cup, with the visa issue among a series of controversies to have overshadowed the final days of build-up to the tournament.
‘We have seen it in Russia, we have seen it in Qatar and now we are seeing it in America which has got the visa issues obviously for the referee, Neville told host Mark Pougatch.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup
Gary Neville insisted FIFA should have been stronger to ensure Artan could officiate and that the decision to send the official home was ‘ridiculous’
‘Fans are obviously having issues getting into the country, the Iranian team it looks like common sense has mainly prevailed with them and they are now able to travel – even though they are not in this country but they are in Mexico.
‘We have to get referees in that are obviously FIFA officials, I don’t know why FIFA haven’t been stronger on that issue.
‘Fans are obviously having issues getting into the country, the Iranian team it looks like common sense has mainly prevailed with them and they are now able to travel – even though they are not in this country but they are in Mexico.’
The former Man United and England full back added: ‘To me it is ridiculous the fact the referee is not able to come into this country. He is a FIFA referee, he is basically someone who has been lauded as being one of the very best.
‘You have got that statue over your shoulder, the Statue of Liberty. I don’t think he’ll be feeling that right now. He is being celebrated like a hero in his own country and rightly so.
‘When you host a World Cup, you are effectively giving over your land to the world of football for four to five to six weeks. We need tolerance and people who can accept that everybody comes from a different part of the world and that’s not happened here.’
FIFA president Gianni Infantino responded to critics by calling for people to ‘chill and relax’ in response to Artan being denied entry to officiate at the tournament.
‘It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,’ Infantino said. ‘But again, we don’t control everything.
Artan got a hero’s welcome back in Somalia after being banned from entering the US
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Artan’s situation was ‘unfortunate’ and told critics to ‘relax and chill’
‘We try, we’ll discuss, we’ll speak, we’ll see. Maybe sometimes it’s good as well to just, you know, chill, relax.’
In an apparent dig at FIFA, European football’s governing body UEFA confirmed Artan has now been appointed as the referee for the Super Cup final between Champions League winners Paris Saint Germain and Europa League champions Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 12.
Artan has been given a hero’s welcome in his homeland, after admitting the decision had shattered his ‘biggest dream’ of officiating at a World Cup.
He was filmed stepping off the plane and being mobbed by well-wishers and dignitaries, shaking hands and smiling broadly.
The referee then posed for photos while holding up the Somalian flag in a show of national pride and defiance.
FIFA had initially said last week that Artan’s visa situation had been ‘fully resolved and he will now be available to officiate at the FIFA World Cup’, only for the US to deny him entry.
The Trump administration has claimed that Artan was denied entry into the US due to alleged terrorism fears. President Trump pictured with Infantino, last July
In a statement provided to FOX, a Trump official said: ‘This individual was seeking admission to the United States.
‘Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations, was discovered making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
‘The traveler was refused admission and given immigration forms that provide the section of law used to complete an expedited removal under 8235 of the INA.
‘President Trump’s administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country – full stop.’
Previously, US Customs and Border Protection had said in a statement: ‘The traveler underwent additional inspection, a routine part of C.B.P.’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility.’
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