Somali referee Omar Artan denied entry to the United States

Brian Broadus89

"The reason for his denial was not made immediately clear." I can look at the photograph and make a sound guess as to why the Stephen Miller Administration banned this professional. Referees licensed at this level are products of years of experience and of incredibly thorough academic study.

Scott Smith53

It really is a disgrace. I wish they had chosen somewhere else to go

concerned2.bsky.social43

BOYCOTT world cup in USA

CarlPorterRoberts34

Didn't we know months ago that there would be some shit like that? Land of the free, my ass.

Can I just say23

The referees should all refuse to officiate any match in the USA unless he is recalled with a public apology from Trump

Parksy196422

Fifa have been a laughing stock for decades, now they show their true corrupt side. Only in it for the money rather than the true intention of the World Cup to raise awareness of the game worldwide and to come together as one united fan base

P.E. Griffiths🍁20

Outright racism, loud and proud and totally predictable. Only idiots and fools couldn’t foresee what is happening.

NancyNY 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦🇩🇰19

And this is why no one and I mean NO ONE should come here.

acleareyedsoul.bsky.social17

Another reason US stadiums should be empty

Eric Richards14

This country is a shithole.

democracy4u.bsky.social12

MOST AMERICANS ARE ASHAMED of the RANCID PEOPLE IN CHARGE RIGHT NOW

normanh1.bsky.social11

We've already decided to only watch/ record games in Mexico and Canada. Canada and Mexico would let him in, if we're not too subservient to the Orange One yet.

Terry11

Yet another reason, if any were needed, to indicate that FIFA should move all matches outside of the USA!

Robin 🇨🇦11

FIFA pandered to Trump with a made up Peace Prize so I don’t feel sorry for them . It’s unfortunate this man will be deprived of participating and I feel sorry for him but to say this is surprising , not really .

Scott Equaliholic10

What an Ugly, Ugly despicable country the US has become.

Friskiedgrrl 🏳️‍🌈 💙🍁 🌊🇨🇦 🇺🇦9

He should be assigned to the games in Canada. Our border guards are not as stupid as the Excited States of Hysteria.

Irritable Yet Soporific9

At least they didn't put him in some rathole like Delaney Hell. Also, boycott the US.

AnMaKo 🏳️‍🌈📯🇪🇺 🇩🇪 🇺🇦 🇬🇱9

Welcome to 💩f*cking 🟠🤡fascism 2.0 ... @ #Trumperica #Boycott this soccer world cup ... @ world

zebrah.bsky.social9

FIFA Sucks The USA Sucks Why, oh why would you come here? Why would you not #BoycottWorldCup ⁉️

barbadine.bsky.social8

This man worked hard to referee at the highest level of the game, and I am sure he had setbacks then only to have these prejudice, discriminatory, shallow ppl do this to him is unjust and reprehensible.

BillyDee 🇨🇦 (CA)8

Do not watch any games in the US. What a shithole thing to do.

Jeaperz Cripes8

Take note, FIFA. Are these the headlines you were hoping for? It will not be the last of this type.

howdydo.bsky.social7

THIS is why having it here was a huge mistake.

Paislie Giraffe Arts6

I don't understand how this regime thinks it's possible to hold international events within our borders without allowing anyone from other countries access.

saskatquach.bsky.social5

FIFA knew. they are part of this. They knew what would happen

Thede5

No one should be going to the USA. It’s a shit hole country now.

Honor your oath of office or resign.5

If I weren't American, I would boycott America.

Dr Eric Farmer4

This is going to be quite a shitshow. There's no-one in Trump's government with an ounce of common sense or common decency. The racism is relentless.

Pesky PB4

Racists - if FIFA had a backbone they sanction America and ban their team from competing, but they are as complicit as the US government. Boycott the World Cup- don’t go, don’t watch, boycott the sponsors.

dr34dfully.bsky.social4

Boycott these games! Make FIFA regret their decision to host any game in the USA! My country is turning into a shithole because a bunch of uneducated morons voted for an orange cocksplat who won't tell the truth if there's a lie available.

We can't keep accepting referees into this country! Wait what do you mean referees are different than refugees, you mean to tell me these are two different things?

💧Sandy4

What else can you expect from a country where the only requirement for ICE employment is that you be a racist sycophant?

Gayle Bellomy4

As if we were not despised enough before….

🦋DonnaNextDoor💙💛❤️‍🩹4

Shame on the people who still support it being played here, shame on those sending players here, and shame on anyone going to watch it.

YouDon'tWantToKnow4

This whole World Cup thing is turning into an even bigger shit show than I had ever imagined. I'm pleasantly surprised.

John Martin🇪🇺🔶 #FBPPR 👩‍❤️‍👨+👫🐶 Rtd🚒 #GetPRDone4

Why would anyone go to America now? The wealthiest Americans are building rocket ships to get away from the place.

John Sostaric4

reschedule him into canada or mexico … im sure we’ll be happy to have them

MartWest3

This calls for a boycott, by Fifa or else any participating country.

Cotardis.bsky.social3

FIFA should’ve listened to the Americans telling them to pull the World Cup from us.

Gypsy Woman3

Why are countries participating? Just pull the plug.

H R Pickens3

Gonna be a long summer of this shit. And it must be frustrating for FIFA. They're greedy and deeply corrupt, so they'll recognize DT as their kind of people. They might expect to get on like a house on fire, but he's going to embarrass them at every opportunity.

Cardinal3

I profoundly hope the stadiums will be empty.

buddhaofnazareth.bsky.social3

The MAGA regime has made a shit-hole country out of the USA

Hank3

Under Piggy Trump we have a racist, bigoted government.

@nwsoftwareguy.bsky.social2

I cannot wait to see how Senegal and Ghana are treated. They will have to have signs: "We are professional athletes to compete in the World Cup" on them at all times.

ghostlyshaman.bsky.social2

why would anyone want to come here...

bodacious952

And many more will be banned and or arrested once they enter the states.. Don't you know this is a white rich man's party only!! Oh, when that goes for the next game also, believe it or not, that's why both teams should refuse to play while he is there!!! Postpone the m*********** for another week

ChristineAa2

He's the wrong color. "Mission South Africa," was launched by the Trump administration to grant refugee status to WHITE South Africans, primarily Afrikaners.

Bigtone2

Why are they coming? Don't they watch the fucking news? Jesus fucking christ.

Cynthia Lou2

We knew Trump would fuck with it! They should’ve moved it.

Laura Frost2

What a disgrace this administration is.

Pat Blair2

Where is Fifa in all of this? Nowhere to be seen or heard. And all that sycophancy in giving Trump a worthless "Fifa peace prize".

Maryland Blue Girl 💙 I have words and know how to use them2

Fascist, racist USA in action. God damn them.

Dawn2

I TOLD you to boycott! You didn’t listen.

Rohit Sharma2

The world Cup should never be in America. America doesn't believe in freedoms and rights that they always preach about.

Liv Bliss2

Nothing to do with him being Somalian, right? After all, "they're all crooks" and "low IQ" (something of a contradiction in terms right there) from "a disgusting country" as the Dear Leader opined not so long ago.

Martin Castellan FRGS2

I look forward to matches being transferred to Canada or Mexico

Vote For Women2

Find a private plane. Go get him and land where he needs to be. Fuck Trump!

Just another night2

Move the games out of America

🌊2

They should have moved it to another country, after Trump was elected. Maybe the Summer Olympics, too, if he's still in office by then.

mwplunkett.bsky.social2

The World Cup ain’t ever coming back to the land of the idiots

mafkr.bsky.social2

Gasp! Never saw that happening! Said no one

SusanC2

Just one more reason to boycott the fuck out of any World Cup event held on US soil.

Jeri Westerson2

#BoycottTheWorldCup If you don't, you're an idiot.

tink51.bsky.social2

And this surprises no one.

1000 Volts of Holte2

We didn't have any of this nonsense when it was held in the freedom loving states of Qatar and Russia...

whynothugsanddrugs.bsky.social2

@mayor.nyc.gov @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social We know you’re a huge supporter of this World Cup and your city, but really, what about this BS!?

@debbie1562

I told them not to come here

SeattleBlueGull2

How to prove to the world that your country is run by reasonable people. Not.

Lynxwyze she/they2

Oh they “cared” all right.

Mark Zohar145

The United States under the Trump administration is a global embarrassment. Boycott these racists.

uosdwis r dewoh126

I really want to know if FIFA is going to stand up for the sport. This should not be hard for FIFA to push for something like this and for someone like Infantino to intervene. Either the “say no to racism” means something or it doesn’t (answer: sadly, it probably doesn’t)

Billy Juggernaut Antifa52

If only we could have seen this coming.

Darwin Woodka52

Good luck holding a World Cup in a country that hates the World.

Jake40

And FIFA, what the fuck you got to say?

Fiona Phelan31

FIFA should select him as the referee for the final and tell Trump that the final will be moved to Mexico or Canada if he isn't allowed entry to the US.

sorysbobczak.bsky.social30

Qatar and russia WC were disgraces, but this is another level.

The Dictator Has No Clothes22

God we suck as a country. So embarrassing. 😒

Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇩🇪20

This is so racist! It's the FIFA World KKKup 😡

So'Westerner gone AWOL16

Mr Artan, I'm so sorry! One selfish tyrant shouldn't block you from refereeing the World Cup. You were hired to do it,, because you're the best! More than half of America hates to see this.

Chris Gallon15

The USA signed up to host the world cup. It has no right to deny entry to officials or players. FIFA should not stand for this.

Bloke In Belfast15

Ahh the racist Trump administration having it's fun.

DBerl090913

Somalia is one of tRump’s “shithole” countries so… no entry. Also Iraq national football team's star striker Aymen Hussein was detained & questioned for 7 hours by U.S. immigration authorities at O'Hare.

Macduff312

Why is it here?! The footballing world should be ashamed of its embrace of authoritarianism and its support of fascist sportwashing.

Sharon11

US citizens have been warning you guys don't come here at this time for your own good

Walter Muller10

Why host a World Cup when no one can come? what an embarrassment

Andy Flan10

Every competing country should be refusing to play until he’s allowed in. And probably not even then.

Cocothecat10

You can thank Trump's and Stephen Miller's racism for this.

Lost Sierra Jim9

This country has become a pathetic shithole

FreeSpirit 📢 (DMs aka Block)🚫9

Sports is a language with no borders nor barriers. A language everyone understands. A sound everyone embraces. It just became political and the US hostility is unprecedented. They need to cancel this and bar the US from hosting anything for the next 10 years. 👿💩🤬🙄

Mike Prince8

All teams should refuse to play until he is admitted. It's simple really.

Custardsteeth7

This is the world's game. The US is just a host. Who the fuck do they think they are? Ruining the biggest sporting spectacle there is. Ridiculous pricing, banning fans, refusing entry to referee's, not allowing a team to stay in the country!! Where the fuck are FIFA.

Eileen7

Olympic committee needs to pull the Olympics from the US.

K Jumbe6

FIFA should have moved the games to Canada and Mexico when it had the chance. Is this really worth it?

Dave6

What did the US think he would do, what is the threat vector? That he would somehow not return home and build an underground dungeon of weapons and take over the country? Fucking idiots.

Holli Winters6

The Trump administration has made the World Cup a fucking disaster and embarrassment for the USA. 🤬

mijn-handle.bsky.social6

FIFA peace prize - reality check: 0-1

San Francisco Lover5

Get set to see a lot of this bulls$it all through FEMA to add to USA shame...😢

James Meguerian5

Such an embarrassing country at the moment

Ralf W5

Why are any national teams coming to this sh*tshow? I know soccer is hugely important to fans (and business). All the more reason to stand for something, not falling for Trump's bullcrap.

Undinium ​​👽​🛸🖖🇬🇱🇺🇦4

Yeah, fuck you FIFA! 🖕

spotted-coach7.bsky.social4

Here we go. Trump ruins the World Cup

Lewis Edwards4

I hope this dumpster fire of a World Cup takes down FIFA with it.

ri-ndex.bsky.social4

Call it off. The US government is too racist to host an international event.

Jim Marciniak4

USA citizen here: man, do we suck. The stench of this time in this country will never wash off.

Sir Richie of the bunnies3

Is there a reason? I mean apart from racism. Have they tried to pretend theres something genuine?

Phasmatic3

if you were an immigration officer you could throw matches so easily and clean up on the betting sites.

mrbluesky583

I am so embarrassed and horrified.

Stef The Grim (not angry enough yet3

It's a racist regime, so of course. #Boycott #Outrage

donworth.bsky.social3

What an embarrassment we have become.

May he be sent to Canada or Mexico then. He’s earned his spot

The chicken lady3

That FIFA Prize really paid off for FIFA, eh? Mobsters

FTZim2

This is the time for the sports fraternity to show unity against this act of blatant racism! If it's true that sports trumps all forms of hate, this the time for all well intentioned sportsmen and women to stand up and show some backbone against this racist act. African teams can boycott the games

Andrew Carlson2

When you’re bigger pieces of shit than FIFA

Why are you surprised? The current administration believes that only whites have the right to do anything in this country, even foreign-born whites. Did you really expect the current administration to respect POC World Cup soccer judges, coaches or players????

Cholmondley Warner 🇪🇺🔶2

I’m sure Infantino will be right along to say this is anti fifa ethics and the USA also needs to comply with terms of the contract for hosting the competition - that all player and fifa nominees must be granted entry to perform their duties etc…

askr99.bsky.social2

Imagine hosting a more authoritarian World Cup than Russia or Qatar…

surlybadger61.bsky.social2

As if there was any more proof was needed America under the GOP has become the bad guys.

Mark Nixon2

Anyone reckon that #Infantino is embarrassed? No, me neither. #corruptFIFA

Keith Fagandini2

This is shocking and shameful. The US should not even be considered b as a World Cup venue until they become a civilised country.

Andy48

Meanwhile FIFA continues to bow to Trump 😒

Cris 🇨🇦46

The worst part is they let you get on a freaking plane and travel for hours and hours vs having the decency to let you know before you board? Such bullshit.

danielmeade32

To be American now Is to be embarrassed

Insert_new_name_here23

If FIFA weren't so corrupt they would've pulled the plug months ago and either moved the World Cup to Europe or worked with Canada and Mexico to add a few more venues in each country and cut us out entirely. Not ideal, but definitely would've been possible (see: Women's World Cup 2007).

🔵Vincefil19

White South African referees are being aggressively recruited to replace him.

maryaskew.bsky.social9

Is it absolutely necessary for the Trump administrstion to embarrass normal Americans at every opportunity?

Stephens9

Effing outrageous. I hope he can switch with a referee in a different country so he can make history.

RascalAlice 🇺🇦7

Shame on FIFA but my understanding is that it's as crooked as our administration.

Observation Group X4

What if fans, officials, or players are harmed by this white‑supremacy insurrection? It is insane to run a FIFA event in a country in low‑intensity civil war — FIFA will share liability if anything goes wrong, and it already has. Stop the event until safety and legal obligations are secured.

Jim White4

The world is coming to understand that the US can’t be trusted to act like serious, relatively responsible country. It will take years of effort, which may well not succeed, to try to return this country to respectability.

Lake. Big Lake.3

Of course FIFA are doing nothing. Disgusting.

Walter Wrona2

God, this is so embarrasing. Worst part is, as others have said, they could have easily let him know BEFORE he got on the plane and flew 20 something hours to get here.

Call Me Garbage Again2

This will all become sports manipulation for betting

Damian Lynch 🟧 🇦🇺 Rebellion is Mandatory during times of Tyranny14

I hope it’s a financial disaster for FIFA

WildlifeGardener12

All of the other officials need to get a spine & quit. Try having a World Cup without them. So ashamed of the United States.

P.E. Griffiths🍁9

Rabid racism loud and proud and openly on display for the entire world to see. Not unexpected by anyone paying attention to the corrupt fasciast regime.

Doremus J7

I’m not watching a single match. Not one.

L F Glatz6

And it is never just racism, right? What a disgrace.

Jolly Confused6

This is outrageous. What is FIFA, and Infantino in particular, going to do about this?

cyanine5

did these dumbfucks ever think about it being called "THE WORLD" Cup?. jfc this is beyond embarassing!

Doug5

Par for the course in America. In future tRump and the tRump crime family should be denied entry into any friking country.

Mother Nature Strikes Back!5

This makes me physically ill. In your face racism from my own country!

kevezc.bsky.social5

This country is so fucked up. God, so embarrassed….

skipf26.bsky.social5

They’re not even trying to hide the racism.

Huh…3

We have become an evil nation. I am so ashamed.

Not a friend of Tim Houston 🇨🇦3

Only the best referee unless he’s black.

Gary Knowles2

They are just brainless idiots.

ricardowensley.bsky.social2

The US proves again they elected racist shit to govern them. I hope they are ashamed but know they don’t care

sun-dayz.bsky.social2

The other day it was the Swiss forward Breel Embolo; then the Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein detained for 7 hours for questioning; Iran's technical bench & officials visa denial; Ivory Coast and Tunisia journalists are having multiple entry visa issues. Just throw this circus away at this point

Fair Robina2

We hate to say we told you s.... No, no we don't. We told you and you had to touch the stove anyway.

Dona Flaca9

Wow. This nation is really showing its true colors, loud and proud, to the whole world. How very tragic, shameful and disturbing.

AVM8

This country is so disgusting. I’m ashamed to say I live here. I never used to feel this way.

i’m waiting for the first teams to boycott the “world cup”. this is an American fucked up mess and should start to be a reason for any team to be embarrassed for participating in this fucked up world cup. hopefully it’s also the end of FIFA and Infantino.

hulkling 86 474

FIFA IS GREEDY AND RACIST shocking i know right

🌸🐱🐭🌸 🖇️2

Rid us of this meddlesome douchebag…

stmiley74.bsky.social2

It’s definitely because he’s a black African.

stevedoug22

Time for the world of football to walk away with their heads held high. Neither FIFA nor the US are fit to stage a World Cup.

greenegg9

There are going to be a lot more stories like this before it's over, or most likely, before it's even started.

Jeff, formerly of MN and MA, still God of Cookies3

That was the first thing that hit me, and the immediate connection to Ilhan Omar, the occupation of the Twin Cities, and efforts to create accelerated mass-deportation processing for Somalis. Stephen Miller's evil is beyond my capacity to describe.

Alan Rudy2

It'd be a shame if a good number of referees refused their assignments - or even minimally worked to rule - in protest.

Ellen aka Squirrel Girl3

Wow just wow I'm so embarrassed by my gov right now.

stillngb.bsky.social2

Not surprised but had to verify: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Cool G12

I hope the other referees show solidarity and demand he is allowed or they'll down whistles.

Martin B5

Also, from the Guardian report…

1977_Terri5

This is just the beginning. Wait until the stories about how fans get treated start. Worst place to be holding it imo

snowyd70.bsky.social2

In a just world, FIFA would impose a points deduction on the US team for this flagrant bollocks.

ATX Broccoli FC4

Infantino: This will be the most inclusive world cup ever. www.instagram.com/reel/DY7Aur-... Reality: World Cup officials from around the world are not able to come ref in the United States.

Brian E. Butler4

Petty, petty, petty. If you agree to host a world cup you must be prepared to host the world. send him to referee a game in Canada and swap one of our referees for him but still petty, petty, petty.

chriskimberley.bsky.social2

Fifa should be taking this very obvious racism on loudly and clearly But they won't because they are as corrupt as Trump